Mark Hughes looking to seize opportunity to secure Premier League status

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes feels that back-to-back home matches over the course of the next five days gives his side a great chance to secure their Premier League status for next season.

The Potters face Hull City at the Britannia Stadium later today followed by a clash against Everton on Wednesday, and Hughes thinks that wins in both games would cement his team's place in the top flight by lifting them over the 40-point mark.

Hughes told the club's official website: "We have back-to-back games at home now so it is important that we maximise this opportunity.

"There is already a bit of a gap between ourselves and the teams below and all being well, if we perform well and take the points that we are hoping to over the coming days then that gap will be even more difficult for them to overcome.

"That would help us moving forward, and it would give us even more confidence to go on and enjoy a good end to the season, where we can hopefully better the achievements that we enjoyed last season."

Stoke are 10th in the Premier League, with 36 points from 26 matches this season.