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

Relegation-threatened Stoke City host high-flying Millwall as both sides look to take a big step towards their respective objectives for the season.

The Potters are just one point clear of the drop while Millwall are a point off the playoffs, and a win for either would be a major boost.

Match preview

Stoke's recent form has been patchy, winning three of their last six league games, but the points they have picked up have proved enough to lift them out of the relegation zone after a disastrous start to the campaign.

The Potters did not win in their first 10 Championship games, losing eight of those fixtures as they sank towards the bottom of the table.

Five of the club's seven league wins have come since the appointment of Michael O'Neill, who replaced Nathan Jones in November.

The reverse fixture between these two in late October ended in a 2-0 win for Millwall in London, and Stoke will be hopeful of preventing their opponents from recording a league double over them.

Millwall, on the other hand, are in fine form as they mount an unexpected playoff charge after an unremarkable start to the season.

The club have lost just once in their last 12 games across all competitions - a surprising 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley, mired in the relegation zone.

Former Stoke head coach Gary Rowett has overseen just two defeats since he replaced long-serving boss Neil Harris, who left to join Cardiff City in place of Neil Warnock.

Their strong form sees the club seventh in the table and just three points behind third-placed Brentford, meaning that a win could well lift them into the top six.

Stoke City Championship form: WDLWLW Stoke City form (all competitions): DLWLWL

Millwall Championship form: WWLDWW Millwall form (all competitions): WLDWWW

Team News

Stoke head coach O'Neill is blessed with an almost fully-fit squad to choose from.

Only Ryan Shawcross - a long-term absentee - is missing for the Potters, meaning that O'Neill has plenty of options available.

Millwall manager Rowett, on the other hand, has a few more men sidelined through injury. Ben Thompson, Tom Elliott, Ryan Leonard and Frank Fielding are all struggling for fitness.

However, he has an otherwise fully-fit squad outside of those four.

Stoke City possible starting lineup: Butland; Smith, Batth, Lindsay, Martins Indi; Allen, Powell, Clucas; Campbell, Vokes, McClean

Millwall possible starting lineup: Bialkowski; Hutchinson, Pearce, Cooper; Romeo, Molumby, Williams, Ferguson; Wallace, Smith, O'Brien

We say: Stoke City 0-0 Millwall

Both sides are in decent form and, while Millwall are the better side at present, Stoke have plenty riding on this fixture as well. Coupled with home advantage, the hosts may battle to just their fourth league draw of the season.