As the jostling for position in the top half of the Premier League table continues, Stoke City will host Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Potters remain locked in a battle to clinch a top-half finish, while Spurs are looking to remain in the top six after seeing their Champions League dream fade in recent weeks.
Stoke
As Mark Hughes continues to impress with the job he is doing at the Britannia Stadium, he will be fully aware that another promising campaign could end with the Potters dropping out of the top half of the table.
After replacing Tony Pulis, many suggested that Hughes would struggle before earning a ninth-place finish last season, and it has been a similar story for Stoke this year as they look to prove themselves as a top-half club.
However, a slump in form in recent weeks has harmed their chances and Hughes will need to rally the players for one final push after a run of just one victory in seven matches.
The frustration was clear last weekend as eighth-placed Swansea moved six points clear of the Potters with a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium, and the result means that they are unlikely to catch Garry Monk's side over the next three games.
Since the loss in Wales much of the news surrounding the club has been about the future of Asmir Begovic, who is reported to be a target for Liverpool after continuing his fine form this season.
Attention will soon turn to the transfer market and the club's efforts to keep their key men from leaving, but Hughes will be keen to stress that there is much more work to be done.
A trip to Burnley next weekend will be followed by a home fixture against Liverpool on the final day, and Stoke must find a way to get back to their best as they aim to hold off Everton in the race for a top-half finish.
Recent form: LLDWDL
Spurs
© Getty Images
Another manager has arrived at White Hart Lane with the aim of taking Tottenham into the Champions League, but Mauricio Pochettino is set to fall short of his target in his debut season in North London.
Pochettino's side have threatened to break into the top four on a number of occasions, but costly results at the wrong times have halted their progress throughout the campaign, and the Argentine will already be looking ahead to the summer transfer window as he attempts to improve the squad.
Despite a change in style, much of the problems have been the same for Spurs, whose struggles against the big sides were on show again last weekend as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Spurs matched the visitors for much of the game and were perhaps unlucky to end the afternoon on the losing side, but that will come as no relief to the club's supporters, who are desperate to challenge higher up the table.
Much has been spoken about another season battling in the Europa League, and although qualification could be out of their hands, Pochettino is unlikely to be willing to take his foot off the gas over the next three matches.
Liverpool are currently three points better off in fifth spot, with Southampton just a point behind, and Tottenham's unpredictable form makes it tough to predict if they can hold on to a place in the top six.
One victory in five games has dashed any slim hopes they had of playing Champions League football next season, and with fixtures against Stoke, Hull City and Everton remaining, the Spurs fans can be forgiven for looking ahead to what is likely to be a busy summer for the club.
Recent form: WDLWDL
Team News
© Getty Images
Stoke have been handed a boost ahead of the match with the news that Marc Muniesa will be available for selection after three months out of action with a hamstring tear.
Jack Butland made his first Premier League start of the season in the loss to Spurs, but Hughes has not yet revealed whether the Englishman will make way for Begovic.
Despite the loss to City, Pochettino is unlikely to make major changes and Federico Fazio is set to continue his partnership with Jan Vertonghen in the centre of defence.
Harry Kane is once again likely to lead the line with support from Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, while Paulinho is pushing for a recall in midfield.
Stoke possible starting lineup:
Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, N'Zonzi, Adam, Whelan, Arnautovic, Walters, Crouch
Spurs possible starting lineup:
Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Mason, Bentaleb, Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli, Kane
Head To Head
Bojan Krkic, who is continuing his recovery from a serious knee injury, was the star of the show in the reverse fixture as he led the Potters to a 2-1 victory in the capital.
Spurs had won the three previous games between the two sides, and have conceded just three goals in the last five matches against Stoke.
Matthew Etherington scored twice in Stoke's last victory over Spurs at the Britannia Stadium in December 2011.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Stoke 1-1 Spurs
Both sides will be eager to return to top form after a number of frustrating results in recent weeks, and with Spurs battling for a spot in the top six, the pressure is on the visitors to take charge. It will be far from easy for the visitors and Stoke will be confident of picking up at least a point.
No Data Analysis info
