Preview: Stoke City vs. Hull City - prediction, team news, lineups

Stoke City play host to Hull City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon knowing that victory will take the club above their opponents in the table.

Meanwhile, the Tigers - currently in 18th position - now sit just three points above the relegation zone after a run of three successive defeats.

Match preview

Having witnessed his Stoke side pick up five points from three matches, Michael O'Neill may feel aggrieved that the Potters are not more than one point above the relegation zone.

However, their lowly league position reaffirms that they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas over the next two months as some of their rivals continue to pick up points on a regular basis.

O'Neill would have been bitterly disappointed with the 1-1 draw at Luton Town, with the last-minute penalty from the Hatters also preventing Stoke from registering their third successive clean sheet.

That goal is the difference between the Staffordshire outfit sitting above Saturday's opponents and in 21st place, and it only increases the pressure ahead of what has developed into a potentially-significant showdown this weekend.

From Hull's perspective, a game of such importance away from home may be just what they require to get their campaign back on track after a dismal two months.

Just two points have been registered in 10 league outings - a run of form which has taken the Tigers from outside promotion contenders to relegation candidates.

While there is an argument that Jarrod Bowen's switch to West Ham United has not helped matters, it does not account for their poor performances in defence.

As many as 22 goals have been shipped over eight matches, which includes four occasions where Hull have conceded at least three goals in a single contest.

Although their fate remains in their own hands ahead of games against Stoke, Charlton Athletic, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough, Grant McCann knows that their current runs at both ends of the pitch cannot continue in the long term.

Stoke City Championship form: WLLWDD

Hull City Championship form: DLDLLL

Team News

Despite the disappointment of the Luton game, O'Neill may still opt to name an unchanged starting lineup.

Tyrese Campbell is pushing for a return to the first XI, although Ryan Shawcross is still some way from being in contention despite his appearance in a second-string fixture.

However, McCann will make multiple alterations to his Tigers side after their capitulation in the derby against Leeds United.

Marcus Maddison will almost certainly come back into the team, potentially at the expense of Mallik Wilks.

Jackson Irvine is in contention to take the place of Leonardo Da Silva Lopes in midfield, while Stephen Kingsley may be used at left-back.

Stoke City possible starting lineup: Butland; Smith, Batth, Chester, Martins Indi; Allen, Cousins; Ince, Powell, Clucas; Vokes

Hull City possible starting lineup: Long; McKenzie, Pennington, McLoughlin, Kingsley; Stewart, Irvine; Samuelsen, Maddison, Honeyman; Magennis

We say: Stoke City 1-1 Hull City

While Stoke are the favourites to prevail at the bet365 Stadium, it remains to be seen how they will react after letting slip two points at Luton. With that in mind, we feel that the Tigers may do enough to earn a share of the spoils.