But then this is a more atease version of the old battlehardened 'Pitbull' who spoiled for a fight and fought his corner. It's Friday afternoon as Davids steps off the sun-bathed training ground and swings his arm around an academy player. Words of advice are offered. The boy's face lights up. He appears to walk six inches taller. It's a precious moment.

There have been many for Davids in the past season. He arrived at White Hart Lane, after an inevitable falling-out with Roberto Mancini at Internazionale, last summer in the twilight of his career. It was a move met with scepticism but the instructions from Spurs' head coach Martin Jol were clear. Add a "winning mentality and physical presence" to his team but, also, set the example and provide the guidance to the young players. It's a duty Davids has enthusiastically discharged.

And so when Spurs face West Ham United today, Davids will be able to say that he adds Upton Park 2006 to Vienna 1995, Marseilles 1998 and, most recently, Old Trafford 2003 as one of the biggest matches of his career.

"It's as important as any other important match I've played in, " says the 33-yearold veteran of four Champions League finals and a World Cup semi-final.

"That's because it's what we have worked for all season. You look at what you are trying to accomplish and you can finally have a positive result, " Davids explains.

For Spurs that is a victory which will guarantee fourth place in the Premiership, above Arsenal, and with it, Champions League football.

That is, of course, unless their north London neighbours win the European Cup against Barcelona later this month.

But that's for the future.

"We've had a great run and established ourselves among the top teams in England. So what more can we do? We may be unlucky but we have still established what we wanted and maybe next year we'll go that stage further."

It won't lessen the achievement as the Uefa Cup, he believes, will be a valuable consolation prize - in terms of experience if not money.

"Everyone wants to play in the Champions League because that's where it is all happening, " says Davids who played in the competition for nine of the 10 years before he joined Spurs. "That's where you get the A-status for players. It's very important for young players."

"And with a bit more money you can attract bigger players and it's important also to keep the big players we have. They have already re-signed Robbie Keane and Ledley King and that's good for the future."

His own future is also on his mind right now. Davids has one more year left on his contract at Spurs and there will also be no last hurrah for the Dutch national squad. Davids, like Clarence Seedorf, has failed to make the cut for this summer's World Cup. Coach Marco van Basten has, ironically, gone for youth.

Davids glosses over the disappointment - although he's intrigued by the apocalyptic reaction in England to Wayne Rooney's broken foot.

"Maybe somebody else will stand up, " he shrugs.

"Don't make it too dramatic. Rooney is a world-class player but you have a couple of others here. And what the English squad has is very good scoring midfielders. You can create things and make a chance. You can cry but it's like 'the king is dead, long live the king'."

"It's obviously important for the English national team if you have a lot of players playing big matches, " Davids says. "You are more mature and know how to cope."

But there is also room for others. "On the other hand, if you have good foreigners they add a bit of flavour to the competition, " he says.

Good foreigners like him, perhaps? "I thank you for saying so, " he adds, with a smile.

FA PREMIERSHIP WEST HAM v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Upton Park, 3.00