Stoke City could move as high as eighth if they defeat Everton at home on Wednesday evening, with the visitors desperate to pick up points in order to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle as we move towards the end of the season.
Stoke have excelled under Mark Hughes in their second season with the Welshman at the helm, and are on course to achieve their highest ever Premier League finish. They currently lie in 10th, a point behind both Swansea and West Ham. Since the new year they've been on an excellent run of form, taking 13 points from a possible 18 in their last six league games. Their highlight of the season surely has to be the superb 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium over Manchester City in late August, new signing Mame Biram Diouf scoring the winner. Diouf has had an good debut season for Stoke, notching six league goals. He is just behind teammates Jonathon Walters and Peter Crouch, who have seven apiece.
Everton are also under their second season with a new manager, but have certainly had different fortunes. Roberto Martinez's side have been very poor in the league this season, compared to when they were chasing 4th place last term. The defence that was so solid under David Moyes has come under scrutiny, and the Blues lie in 14th place having shipped 39 goals so far. In Europe however, the Toffees have been excellent. They easily topped a Europa League group including German giants Wolfsburg, and a commanding home performance against Young Boys of Bern last week saw them breeze through to the last 16, winning 7-2 on aggregate.
Team news:
Stoke will certainly be without creative midfielder Steven Ireland as a result of the calf injury he picked up on Saturday, as a result of a controversial challenge from Hull defender Manuel Figueroa. Marc Munesia (hamstring), Ryan Shawcross (back), Bojan and Peter Odemwingie (both ACL) all remain sidelined for the Potters.
Everton could be buoyed by the possible return of Leighton Baines, as he faces a late fitness test to overcome a thigh problem. If Baines is unavailable, Luke Garbutt will continue at left back due to Bryan Ovideo's hamstring injury. Winger Christian Atsu is likely to remain out with an illness, whilst Tony Hibbert, Aiden McGeady and Stephen Pienaar remain out with knee injuries.
When they last met:
Stoke left Everton feeling blue on a cold boxing day as a Bojan penalty handed the visitors all three points at Goodison Park. Neither side were excellent on the day, however Everton were left agrieved at a failure to send off Walters for a tug on a clean through Leighton Baines.