Stoke v Wolves

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Tuesday, 26 April Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller will miss Tuesday’s game after suffering an Achilles injury against Aston Villa at the weekend.

John Carew will be available after missing that match.

Midfielder Stephen Hunt is available for Wolves after recovering from a long-term groin injury.

But Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is a major doubt after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw against Fulham on Saturday.

Stoke

Injured: Fuller (Achilles), Higginbotham (knee), Sidibe (Achilles)

Wolves

Doubtful: Edwards (back)

Injured: Doyle (knee), Elokobi (hamstring), Zubar (shoulder)

MATCH PREVIEW

Straight-talking managers Tony Pulis and Mick McCarthy never shy away from making their point, but it is all three that they crave from this fixture.

There is a danger you think of Wembley before it comes along and then players take their foot off the pedal. We must not do it. The Premier League is still our main priority. We still need points Stoke manager Tony Pulis

Stoke and Wolves both earned a draw at the weekend in their battle against relegation. Pulis will be encouraged by his Stoke side’s display at Aston Villa, but he knows the FA Cup finalists still have work to do to secure their Premier League status.

Second bottom Wolves have an even greater need for the points. A draw in this match would take them out of the relegation zone with four games to go, but victory would be a real tonic ahead of two tough West Midlands derbies.

Whatever the result on Tuesday, it will be an old-school test. Earlier in the season, Pulis and McCarthy were accused by Fulham’s Danny Murphy of preparing teams that are too aggressive. It was a remark that caused a storm of protest, but the battling qualities that characterise these sides will be needed in the season’s run-in.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Stoke have only won one of their last six home matches against Wolves, a 2-1 Championship victory in August 2004.

Stoke

• Stoke have only taken six points from their last eight games.

• They have not lost a league match in which they opened the scoring (W8, D4).

• The Potters have the worst first-half record in the division: they have led at the interval in only four of their 33 matches.

Wolves

• They have the worst away record in the top flight, accruing only two wins and eight points.

• Mick McCarthy’s side have lost 18 league matches – the equal-most in the division with Blackpool.

• Kevin Foley could make his 150th start for Wolves.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Stoke

Walters: 11 goals (5 league); Jones: 10 goals (7 league)

Wolves

Fletcher: 8 goals (6 league); Doyle: 8 goals (5 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Mason

Assistant referees: Dean Mohareb & Scott Ledger

Fourth official: Mike Dean

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Stoke (D1-1 v Aston Villa, a): Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Delap (Fuller 75), Etherington (Whitehead 73), Jones (Diao 88), Walters. Substitutes (not used): Sorensen, Collins, Faye, Pugh.

Wolves (D1-1 v Fulham, h): Hennessey; Ward, Stearman, Craddock, Berra, Jarvis, Henry, Milijas (Mancienne 59), O’Hara, Guedioura (Kightly 85), Fletcher (Ebanks-Blake 77). Substitutes (not used): Hahnemann, Foley, Hammill, Vokes.