Preview: Stoke City vs. Aston Villa

Stoke City will be looking to put distance between themselves and the Premier League relegation zone when they take on Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts have lost just once in their last six league games and have two wins, including their impressive 3-2 victory over Chelsea a fortnight ago.

Villa had a good spell of form in November, but have lost their last two games without scoring a goal in the process, which has left them starting to look over their shoulder.

For the hosts Matthew Etherington is pushing for a return to action following his injury but Ryan Shawcross is a slight doubt having been subbed off in Stoke's last game.

The only fresh concern for Paul Lambert is that Gabriel Agbonlahor will miss the game through suspension, with Andreas Weimann a possibility to deputise.

Recent form

Stoke: DWLDWD

Villa: WDDWLL

Possible starting lineups

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Palacios, Ireland; Walters, Assaidi, Etherington; Jones

Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Clark, Baker, Luna; El Ahmadi, Westwood, Sylla; Albrighton, Benteke, Weimann

Sports Mole says: 2-1