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Ledley King fears that tonight's Carling Cup final against Chelsea could be the last time he turns out for Tottenham.
According to London's Daily Mail, the Spurs defender has a degenerative knee condition and has been warned that he may not be able to pursue his playing career
beyond the club's first final since 2002.
King was outstanding in the semifinal against Arsenal, but he has been unable to play for the club since that 5-1 victory in January.
He has missed Tottenham's last six matches and has been wrapped in cotton wool in order to face a Chelsea side likely to be led out by John Terry.
Terry and Frank Lampard, who were on the bench for Chelsea's Champions League draw with Olympiakos in Athens on Tuesday, are expected to start. One man who is sweating on his place is left back Ashley Cole after some poor form and personal problems.
Although King is reluctant to admit that his career could be over, Tottenham sources fear the worst after tonight's final.
According to the Daily Mail, King's knees are now 'bone on bone' and he has been told there is very little that can be done to improve the situation.
He also has a hip condition that is causing him problems. The defender, 27, is one of the most popular players at Tottenham, but there are growing fears that this could turn out to be King's farewell appearance.
It was widely assumed that Jonathan Woodgate had been signed to play alongside King in the centre of defence, but manager Juande Ramos brought him in as King's replacement.
Spurs have told King, who will captain Spurs at Wembley, that they will stand by him but there is clearly a decision to be made in the coming months.
Terry gets the nod for Chelsea despite the excellent recent form of Brazil defender Alex, who has played alongside Ricardo Carvalho in the majority of matches since the England defender broke a metatarsal in December.
Spurs limped into a last 16 UEFA Cup tie against PSV Eindhoven with an unconvincing 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague in the week as they scraped through 3-2 on aggregate.
"If we play like we did against Slavia, then we are not going to win very often," Ramos said.
And he has warned them they will be brushed aside by Chelsea if they do not raise their game for the final.