Levi Colwill is confident Chelsea will raise their game against Tottenham and insists they can inflict a first Premier League defeat of the season on the leaders.
Chelsea will visit Spurs for Monday's derby showdown buoyed by last night's 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Blackburn, after which they drawn to face Newcastle at home in the quarter-finals.
The victory was a vital one for confidence, with Chelsea 11th in the Premier League and 14 points behind Ange Postecoglou's newly-revived Spurs, who have taken the Premier League by storm.
Mauricio Pochettino's return will add fuel to the fire of a huge match, with Spurs the early pacesetters and Chelsea in danger of becoming mid-table mediocrity.
Asked whether Chelsea are ready to swing momentum back in their direction, Colwill said: "It's a big game — a great one to play in because of the rivalry.
"Of course, they've got good players but, at the same time, so have we. We played well against the big teams like Arsenal and Liverpool. We have the same approach as any other game no matter whether they are top of the league or not.
"We can go there and try to win which we are capable of. It will be a hard game but we are capable of winning."
The 20-year-old defender was given his first night on the bench this season to allow Benoit Badiashile to return from a five-month injury lay-off.
The Frenchman turned in a corner kick on his return at Stamford Bridge before Raheem Sterling secured victory with a curled finish during the second half.
Colwill's near ever-presence this season shows his increasing importance for Chelsea. He got 30 minutes from the bench as Thiago Silva was fully rested.
The academy star will play his first derby against Tottenham and, when asked if he was ready, he said: "I am definitely and, speaking on behalf of all the players, we are all ready to go there and put a good performance in and, as I said, get the win."
Colwill's confidence is built upon dominant displays against fellow title challengers Arsenal and Liverpool, which Chelsea ultimately drew.
They were left disappointed on both occasions but if Chelsea can be more clinical in front of goal, he believes those kinds of performances can defeat a team like Spurs. "We lacked a bit of luck in those games at the end of the day," said Colwill.
"We missed big chances and, on another day, we'd turn them in. Hopefully, we can do that [take chances] on Monday and turn it around."
Amid disappointing league form, Pochettino says Chelsea "need to think about winning" the Carabao Cup. Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa have all now been knocked out to further increase Chelsea chances.
It would also represent a back door into Europe, with Chelsea falling behind in the Premier League.
Colwill talked up the importance of the competition, saying: "It will be tough still but we have just got to treat the team we get in the next round like they are the best in the world."
He also added wins in the cup could help inspire better league form. "It helps but we face each game as it comes no matter whether it is a cup or the League — we've got to go into it with the same mindset like we have done tonight. We've got to keep it going into the Premier League."
