In April 2012, the Blues beat Harry Redknapp's side 5-1 in the FA Cup semifinals. Then, the following month, they stole the north Londoners' Champions League spot by winning the continental competition.

In 2015, Chelsea overcame Spurs in the League Cup final. Fourteen months later, they ended Tottenham's title bid in the infamous Battle of the Bridge. Last season, Spurs suffered another FA Cup semifinal defeat to their enemies from west London while also finishing runners-up behind them in the race for the Premier League crown.

Tottenham have landed their own blows during this period, impressively triumphing 5-3 and 2-0 in the league meetings at White Hart Lane in January 2015 and January 2017. However, Chelsea went on to win the crown in both seasons. When the truly decisive moments have arrived, the Blues have generally landed the knockout punches.

Yet Tottenham have a chance this weekend to hit back and blow a large hole in their rivals' hopes of maintaining their presence at Europe's top table.

Fourth-placed Spurs have a five-point lead over fifth-placed Chelsea, and Sunday's derby represents a crucial moment in the fight for the Champions League spots.

Conte's side have a big opportunity to close the gap, and they have home advantage. But a defeat would leave them seven or eight points adrift of fourth spot, which could be terminal at this stage of the season.

This time, the Blues have already exited Europe. Unlike Arsenal, who can still win the Europa League, they have no alternative route back into the Champions League.

And with rumours persisting that Antonio Conte will depart this summer, Chelsea's hierarchy will be anxious to ensure that the club can still offer Champions League football next season, both when it comes to attracting a manager and new players.

Tottenham could cause their foes a serious headache if they triumph on Sunday, and they would doubtless relish doing so. But, again, history suggests that will be easier said than done. Spurs last won a league game at Stamford Bridge in February 1990 and have since played 27 top-flight matches there without emerging victorious.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino has won just one of his 19 away games against the current top-six sides while in charge of the north Londoners.

Tottenham do not necessarily need a victory on Sunday to enjoy a successful visit -- a draw would be a better result for them than for Chelsea. However, Pochettino has steadfastly refused to play for a stalemate when he has visited the top sides, and the chances are he will be going for the jugular again, as he did in February's open and entertaining 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Harry Kane was at the centre of the action against Liverpool that day, and it remains to be seen whether he is fit enough to play a part this weekend as he recovers from his ankle injury. If not, Spurs fans will console themselves with the fact that they have an able deputy -- not Fernando Llorente, who moved to Spurs rather than Chelsea on deadline day last summer, but Son Heung-Min.

The 25-year-old has netted seven times in his last five games for Tottenham, with his last two goals coming as a striker after he replaced Kane in the role at Bournemouth.

It may just be that, having been disappointed with both Vincent Janssen and Llorente, Spurs decide to go into next season without a specialist reserve forward, instead entrusting the versatile Son to fill in for Kane when necessary. Yet the South Korean still has to prove that he can be an effective lone frontman away against the top sides.

Son was deployed up front in Kane's absence at Old Trafford back in October and made little impact before being withdrawn in the 62nd minute of the 1-0 defeat. In fairness, his struggles were largely due to Jose Mourinho's suffocating tactics in a tight affair where there were few chances at either end. Sunday's clash with Chelsea might be very different because a stalemate is of questionable value to the Blues.

But regardless of the home side's tactics and the nature of the match, Son can underline his growing importance if, after his brace at Bournemouth, he shows he can also mimic Kane's threat against Conte's defence at the Bridge.

If he succeeds, he might just save Spurs some money in the summer -- and a good day up front could allow his bosses to think about the transfer window sooner rather than later, with the benefit of a precious eight-point cushion in the top-four fight.

Should Tottenham reach that enviable position, it would no doubt feel particularly sweet to do so in this fixture -- against Chelsea, who have caused them so much heartache in the past; away against a top-six rival; and at Stamford Bridge of all grounds.