Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has claimed that Basel will provide a tough challenge for his side in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final tie.

Spurs will host the Swiss champions at White Hart Lane in the first leg of their last-eight encounter.

"When it comes to the quality of the individuals, we have to admit that we have the superior players," Villas-Boas is quoted as saying by Goal.com.

"But on the other hand the experience that Basel have - the fact that they have played Champions League, the fact that they are regular trophy winners, their recent European experience - also makes them one of the favourites.

"They put out Zenit [St Petersburg], which was a very strong team, and we expect a tough game."

Tottenham will be without Jermain Defoe for the game after the striker was ruled out with a muscular injury.