Juande Ramos is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. “Keep ’em guessing” appears to be his motto and, thus, neither players nor fans can be sure of the Tottenham Hotspur head coach’s starting lineup against Slavia Prague this evening until shortly before kick-off.

And which is more important? The second leg of their Uefa Cup round-of-32 tie at White Hart Lane, which they start with a 2-1 lead eked out in the Czech Republic last week? Or the Carling Cup final, in which they play Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday?

And which goalkeeper will Ramos use? Radek Cerny, the holder of the jersey but who erred in the first leg to gift Slavia their goal? Or Paul Robinson, without an outing for ten matches but who has waited patiently in the wings? Questions, so many questions, few of which Ramos felt able to provide a complete answer to yesterday. He spoke, he smiled and the translator translated. If there were any clues to the Cerny-Robinson dilemma, they remained hidden.

“The only goalkeeper who can make a mistake is the one on the pitch at the time,” Ramos said. “But any player can make a mistake. The goalkeeper can make a mistake, the striker can make a mistake. The decision hasn’t been taken yet but I know that whoever plays in goal will do the best he can. Paul has been working the same as the others, with intensity and a lot of willing.”

Jonathan Woodgate, the Tottenham centre back, offered an extra glimpse of how Robinson has been coping with his exile. “Everyone has ups and downs in their career, like myself,” Woodgate said. “You’ve just got to knuckle down and when you get your chance, you’ve got to take it. I’m sure that’s what Paul will do. He’s being very professional.”

Whether Ledley King or Michael Dawson will be fit to partner Woodgate in central defence tonight or on Sunday is cloaked in mystery, too. King, who has a recurring knee problem, could play in either or both; Dawson, who has a hamstring strain, is more likely to return at Wembley.

However, with two cup matches in such close proximity, the Spaniard did admit to a sneaky preference for tonight’s competition. “The game on Sunday is not the most important game in my career because a European final would be,” Ramos said. “Of course, Sunday’s match will be very exciting, very beautiful and passionate for the club and the supporters because it’s a long time since they reached a final. But you can’t compare that with a European competition.

“I am not thinking about the final at the moment, I am thinking only about the game on Thursday. If you ask me on Friday, I will tell you that the only important competition is the Carling Cup. And if you ask me on Monday, I will tell you the only important competition is the Premier League.”

Ramos will field his strongest side tonight, unlike Avram Grant, the Chelsea first-team coach, who rested players for the 0-0 Champions League draw away to Olympiacos in Athens on Tuesday night. Woodgate is happy to oblige, even if he could be risking injury and his first appearance in a cup final.

“When you’re a kid playing in the playground at school, you always think about playing in a final at Wembley,” he said. “It’ll be a proud moment when I’m walking out there. But I’ll be playing at 100 per cent [this evening]. I’ll do everything I can for the team and if something happens, then it happens. If I’m not fit for the final, I’m not fit.”

Woodgate has no trophy preference, either. “I’d take anything, really,” he said. “It’s on your CV: Uefa Cup, Carling Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, whatever. At the end of the day, it’s a winner’s medal. And if this team gets a winning mentality, then we can really go places.”

Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-2): R Cerny – P Chimbonda, J Woodgate, D Zokora, Lee Young Pyo – A Lennon, J Jenas, T Huddlestone, S Malbranque – D Berbatov, R Keane.

Slavia Prague (possible; 4-1-4-1): M Vaniak – M Krajcik, M Latka, E Brabec, F Drizdal – M Suchy – M Jarolim, J Cerny, M Tavares, D Pudil – D Strihavka.

Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).

Television: Live on ITV4 from 7pm (kick-off 7.45pm).