Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 6th April K/o: 15:00
Team News
Winger Matthew Etherington is a doubt for Stoke as they prepare to welcome Aston Villa to the Britannia Stadium. The winger is still nursing groin strain and back complaints which caused him to sit out last week's defeat to Everton. Aston Villa are expected to be without Ciaran Clark once more as he continues to recuperate from a shoulder injury, but Darren Bent returns after being ruled out by an ankle injury and a virus last weekend.
Match Preview
Though the doom mongers will all point to Paul Lambert's Aston Villa as being the obvious relegation candidates currently in the bottom eight of the Barclay's Premier League, there is an insidious danger that Stoke could end up replacing them in 18th place by the time all is said and done. Seemingly safe all season, destined for yet another solid top 10 finish, Tony Pulis' side could be sucked into the relegation zone having gone five games now without a win. The Potters are just four points clear of today's visitors and a win for the Villans could leave them in the mire. But the stats may yet prove to hand Pulis a respite. Villa haven't kept a clean sheet in 20 games now, while Stoke are unbeaten in the last five home matches between the pair. It will have to stay that way if they are to steer themselves to safety.
Likely Line-Ups
Stoke Begovic, Shawcross, Huth, Cameron, Wilson, Walters, Whelan, Adam, NZonzi, Crouch, Jones
Aston Villa Guzan, Lowton, Lichaj, Baker, Vlaar, Bannan, Holman, Westwood, N'Zogbia, Benteke, Weimann Source:
BBC