Preview: Sunderland vs. Stoke City

One of five all-Premier League ties in the third round of the Capital One Cup sees Sunderland host Stoke City at the Stadium of Light tomorrow evening.

Hosts Sunderland memorably reached the final of last year's competition, beating Chelsea and Manchester United along the way, before falling 3-1 to Manchester City in the final.

They are through to the third round of this year's competition after a comfortable victory over Birmingham last month.

That still remains the Black Cats' only win this season, though. They have drawn four and lost one in the league to lie 17th in the early table.

Gus Poyet could make a number of changes to his lineup from Saturday's stalemate at Burnley, with Jozy Altidore, Will Buckley, Liam Bridcutt and Jordi Gomez possibly coming in.

Visitors Stoke, meanwhile, aren't much better off in the league with five points from five games. They were moments away from victory on Saturday, but conceded a late equaliser at Queens Park Rangers.

Mark Hughes is also likely to shake up his starting XI for Tuesday's game, with Oussama Assaidi and Bojan Krkic in line for starts. Jonathan Walters could also return.

The Potters reached the third round by seeing off Portsmouth.

These two sides are yet to play each other in the league this season, with Sunderland claiming a 1-0 victory in their last meeting in January.

Recent form

Sunderland: DDLWDD

Stoke: DLWWDL

Possible starting lineups

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, Brown, O'Shea, Van Aanholt; Buckley, Cattermole, Bridcutt, Gomez, Johnson; Altidore

Stoke: Sorenson; Muniesa, Huth, Wilson, Pieters; Whelan, Sidwell; Bojan, Arnautovic, Assaidi; Diouf

Sports Mole says: 3-2