London - Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping the Carling Cup can bring them a change in fortunes when they begin the defence of the trophy this week.

The London side, bottom of the table after a shocking start to the season, won the trophy in brilliant style last season.

But the loss of their strike duo, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, has left them impotent in attack and they have earned just two points from their first first five league matches.

A UEFA Cup win last week gave them some respite and they will be hoping for another lift when they travel to managerless Newcastle in the third round on Wednesday.

Newcastle are a club in turmoil, managerless after the departure of Kevin Keegan over problems with the way they are run, while owner Mike Ashley last week put them up for sale after constant criticism from the fans.

Spurs' assistant manager Gus Poyet said the club needed time to find their form.

"Some players came in only just before the close of the transfer window and there have been big changes," he said on Sunday.

"We must still all work together and change the situation but it is a big pressure on the players at the moment."

Newcastle's caretaker manager Chris Hughton admitted the game held added significance for the club after the goings-on at St James's Park in recent weeks.

"It is important for a big club like ours to stay in the cup competitions for as long as is possible," he said, and a win is the best way to lift morale.

"The sooner (the manager's job) all gets sorted out the better. That has been the case from day one. All we can do in the meantime is our best."

Chelsea, beaten by Spurs in the final in March, are also involved in all-Premier League clash when they travel to Portsmouth.

For the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, the Carling Cup has become a competition in which they blood some of their younger players.

All four teams are likely to use more of their fringe players this week, with Arsenal at home to Sheffield United, Liverpool entertaining Crewe and United, who have made a faltering start to the season, at home to Middlesbrough.

Blackburn Rovers against Everton is the only other all-Premier League clash, while two League One sides, Leeds United and Hartlepool United, clash at Elland Road.

Arguably the most interesting match of the night, though, could come at Rotherham, where Southampton are the visitors.

Having begun the season with a 17-point deficit after exiting administration, Rotherham have made an impressive start, moving to just minus three.

And they will fancy their chances against a Southampton side languishing in the bottom three in Championship, albeit two divisions above them.

Rotherham beat Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday to reach the third round and victory over Southampton would also help improve their financial situation.

In Tuesday's other third-round ties, Fulham travel to Burnley, Stoke City welcome Reading, Sunderland face Northampton, Swansea meet bitter rivals Cardiff and Watford host West Ham United.

On Wednesday, Aston Villa play Queens Park Rangers, big-spending Manchester City are away to Brighton and Wigan Athletic make the journey to Ispwich.