Joe Cole

Joe Cole plans to creep out of the shadows and snatch the Barclays Premier League title from under the noses of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Cole's Chelsea have inched to within striking distance of top spot in recent weeks and could go level on points with one or both of their rivals with a win at Tottenham on Wednesday night.

"We're happy in the shadows, lurking there," said Cole.

"Now we're ready to build some good form and go on the onslaught.

"This is a great time for Chelsea."

Chelsea have not lost a Premier League match in 2008, dropping just six points since losing 1-0 at Arsenal in December.

With the Gunners and United both yet to visit Stamford Bridge this season, Cole knows if Chelsea will almost certainly be champions if they win all of their remaining nine games.

"It is very tight at the top and the race is wide open," the 26-year-old said. "So we need to stay focused because this is the time when you can't afford to throw anything away.

"No-one on the planet knows who is going to win the league at the moment. It's just a case of making sure we keep performing.

"But I think we're hitting form at just the right time and, hopefully, this is the start of bigger and better things for Chelsea."

Surprise defeats in both domestic cup competitions have left Chelsea with just the league and Champions League to play for this season but Cole believes the upsets against Tottenham and Barnsley could prove "a blessing in disguise".

He added: "We've seen the best and worst of Chelsea recently but we need to make sure it's only the best we bring out from now on."