Preview: Newcastle United vs. Stoke City

Newcastle United can keep up their pursuit of a Champions League spot on Saturday with a win at home to Stoke City.

The fifth-placed Magpies have surprised many this season with their sustained charge at the upper reaches of the Premier League table.

In contrast, Stoke will be hoping to turn around their recent bad fortune following one win in their last six matches.

Newcastle have no new injury worries ahead of the match at the Sports Direct Arena after they had a rest last weekend due to Chelsea's participation in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Stoke should be largely unchanged from the side that drew at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Current form:

Newcastle: LWWWWW Stoke: LDDLWD

Possible lineups:

Newcastle: Krul; Coloccini, Santon, Williamson, Simpson; Perch, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba

Stoke: Begovic; Huth, Shawcross, Shotton, Wilson; Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Palacios, Crouch, Walters

Sports Mole says: 2-0