Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios expects the qualities that sparked an extended World Cup party in Honduras to be on display when Wigan arrive at White Hart Lane.

Palacios almost missed the win over Portsmouth last month as the president of Honduras ordered a party to celebrate their World Cup qualification for South Africa next summer, where the South Americans, whose only previous appearance came in Spain in 1982, will look to showcase their powerful team.

However, the 25-year-old and international team-mate Hendry Thomas, who share more than 100 caps between them, will first be battling against each other in midfield this weekend.

Palacios left Wigan in January and has since earned praise for his no-nonsense approach, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp deeming the £12million fee to be money well spent for what the midfielder brings.

"I have always played football in this way, ever since I was young in Honduras, football is very raw, very strong, but there is plenty of technique too," Palacios said.

"All the kids in Honduras play like that. The blend of technique and toughness suits the Premier League very well but the thing about the game here is the speed, we have to adapt to that very quickly.

"The speed is something that really hits you when you come here."

Although Palacios will come face-to-face with his Honduras team-mate on Sunday, he is reluctant to draw comparisons.

"Hendry is a good player but I wouldn't say that he is similar to me," he said.

"We don't really share the same style and I believe we like to play a different sort of game but, nonetheless, he is hard to play against.

"Maynor Figueroa, their left-back, probably won't play on Sunday because he is injured, but he is also a good friend of mine from the national side along with Hendry.

"I still have many friends at the club and I've had three weeks of them talking to me about the game, sending me loads of texts."

Palacios' style has led to Redknapp comparing the midfielder to Spurs legend Graham Roberts.

The former Wigan ace added: "It really makes me happy that the manager speaks about me in that way, comparing me with a player who worked so hard for the good of the team."

Redknapp has Ledley King out with a hamstring problem but Aaron Lennon is back following an ankle injury, easing Spurs' attacking concerns as Luka Modric's return from a fractured fibula has been slower than expected.

The Spurs manager has been impressed with new Wigan boss Roberto Martinez after his work at Coca-Cola Championship side Swansea.

"They have a terrific young manager, he's excellent," Redknapp said.

"I liked him when he was at Swansea, where he did a great job and got them playing fantastic football.

"He's gone to Wigan and I'm sure he's going to be a great success there as well.

"They've done well in the South American market.

"We took Wilson Palacios off them and (Ecuador's Antonio) Valencia went to Manchester United.

"They've got good contacts out there and have unearthed some real good talent."