Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has repeatedly declared in recent weeks that there is no reason why his side cannot challenge for the Blues' crown and has been on a mission to convince his squad to think the same way.

Trusted lieutenant Jordan agrees with Redknapp's assessment but warned belief alone would not be enough to end Tottenham's 50-year wait for a league title.

"I think they've got to prove it," said Jordan, who assumed Spurs' pre-match media duties this morning after Redknapp fell ill.

"You have players in the Spurs dressing room that have won championships in other countries and at other clubs.

"You have a championship badge but to do it as a team for the first time for a long time isn't easy.

"It's only when you do that as a team, and break that, that you have the belief that you can go and do it again.

"Manchester United went so many years before they won the championship under Sir Alex and then they were away.

"And then Chelsea under Mourinho, after so many years, won the championship, and then they got it back-to-back.

"So I think, once you've won it and you've broken that barrier then, within that dressing room, things change.

"But, until that's done, you've got to persevere; you've got to keep at it until it happens."

Winning the title would be the latest of several "barriers" Tottenham have faced since Redknapp and Jordan arrived at White Hart Lane just over two years ago.

The first was rescuing the club from their worst ever start to a season, the next was qualifying for the Champions League for the first time and the latest was reaching the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition.

That would all be topped by a first championship since 1961 in what is developing into the most open title race for years, with fifth-placed Spurs just six points off top spot.

Jordan revealed Redknapp had begun making reference to the title in his pre-match team talks.

"Over the last few weeks, I think he's actually touched on that in the dressing room, because he does believe," Jordan said.

"He wants, with his final words, to get that player to believe within that team that they can do it at Spurs."

Beating Chelsea on Sunday would reinforce that belief as well as cutting the gaps to the faltering champions to just a point.

Until a month ago, the Blues looked like running away with the league but they have since surrendered top spot during a run of only two wins in their last eight games in all competitions.

Jordan said: "Chelsea have stuttered and they've let the other teams in.

"Not only that, but they've let the other teams in, I think, in believing that there is an opening this season for not just Manchester United and Chelsea to repeat what they have been doing, but other clubs.

"I think it is an open championship; I think there are opportunities there."

He added: "You look at the top teams and you think, 'This is a chance'.

"The top two teams aren't showing the form that they did last year.

"So that, to me, indicates that there is a chance that someone - one or two teams - could get in the pack."

Victory on Sunday would also further boost Redknapp's burgeoning reputation, with the 63-year-old looking more of a favourite by the day to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager.

Having worked under Redknapp during his two spells at Portsmouth and now at Tottenham, Jordan has no doubt of the former's credentials.

"He treats the football players like adults," he said.

"He's a person who gives those players an opportunity and they've got to show that responsibility.

"He doesn't rule with an iron fist, or anything like that.

"I think the players respect the freedom that he gives them.

"I think they respond to that; I don't think you can deny that.

"You see that in their game.

"He wants them to play, he wants them to express themselves. I think that's always been his way."