Martin O'Neill will seek advice from Sunderland's club doctors before deciding whether to play Fraizer Campbell for a third time in six days.
Campbell returned to the side last week in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, after 17 months out with knee ligament damage.
The 24-year-old has made an instant impact by scoring in that game as well as the 3-0 win over Norwich on Wednesday.
Ahead of the Black Cats' game with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium, O'Neill must decide whether Campbell is able to cope with another game in such a short period of time.
O'Neill told the Sunderland Echo: "It is going to be a big decision to make in regards to Fraizer.
"It is one I will give a lot of thought to in consultation with our medical team.
"I had thought about taking him off earlier against Norwich, maybe after the hour, but I found myself hanging on that wee bit longer, asking that bit more of him because I wanted to be certain of winning the game before taking him off."
Sunderland top the Premier League form guide, taking 13 points from their last six matches.
Robert Summerscales
