The form team in the English Premier League with four wins out of five, Stoke City, will look to maintain that good run against an Aston Villa side desperate to move themselves out of relegation trouble.
Stoke have picked up 13 points in their last five matches, taking them to ninth in the table on 22 points from 15 matches. Villa, however, are stuck in 15th, on 14 points, just two points from the relegation zone.
With all eyes on Stoke's players, manager Tony Pulis categorically said he will not allow any of his squad members to leave in the January transfer window.
"This is a massive year in terms of staying in the Premier League because the rewards at the end of it will be enormous, and this football club recognizes that," Pulis said at his pre-match press conference.
"If there's interest in some of our players, then that can only be a good thing. It shows that we are doing well and those players are performing well.
"If a big a club comes in for one of our players, it is difficult to say 'no, we are not going to do it' if the deal is right. But there will be no sale of our big players in the January window because this is without question our biggest season in the Premier League.
"Even if there was an offer or interest, and there isn't at the moment, we are making it clear now that it will have to wait until the end of the season. We must not do anything that may in any way affect our chances of staying in the Premier League. The financial stakes are too high to do that."
"Things have been going well for us recently, but there is still an awful long way to go to get to our initial 40 point target. That is our first objective at the start of every season and we must stay focused on that as a group."
Pulis is expected to welcome back Peter Crouch after the striker was forced to miss the 1-0 win over West Brom last weekend, after losing several teeth following a collision with Fabricio Coloccini of Newcastle.
Charlie Adam, however, is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card, with Dean Whitehead expected to replace him in midfield.
Villa skipper Ron Vlaar remains doubtful, while Charles N'Zogbia could return to the squad after resuming training. Enda Stevens and Joe Bennett are ruled out.
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Expected lineups: Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Clark, Baker, Lichaj; Herd, Westwood; Holman, Bannan, Agbonlahor; Benteke.
Stoke: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Cameron; Whelan, Whitehead; Nzonzi, Etherington, Walters; Jones.
Prediction: 2-1 to Villa
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