The Bluebirds sit eighth heading into the midweek fixture, seven points from in-form Barnsley in sixth. 

Mick McCarthy's men saw their eleven-game unbeaten streak come to an end last time out, with a late Adam Masina free-kick allowing Watford to take all three points from the Cardiff City Stadium.

Stoke City’s season has petered out in recent weeks, with their 3-0 away loss to Middlesbrough last time out only compounding the drab feeling around the club at the minute.

Michael O'Neill's side go looking for their first away win since December 2, at Wycombe Wanderers. They sit 11th, having fallen away from the playoff chase since the turn of the year.

  • Team news

Mick McCarthy has no new injuries to contend with for the match-up. Lee Tomlin, Joe Bennett and Joel Bagan remain sidelined. 

Jordi Osei-Tutu may return to the bench for Cardiff City after building up fitness in recent weeks.

Potters duo Sam Vokes and Jordan Cousins are both doubtful for the away trip. 

Morgan Fox (hamstring), Sam Clucas (hernia) and James McClean (foot) all remain in the treatment room.

Tyrese Campbell (knee) and Nathan Collins (foot) will not feature again this campaign.

  • Predicted lineups

Cardiff (3-4-2-1):

Phillips; Morrison, Flint, Nelson; Ng, Vaulks, Ralls, Brown; Wilson, Bacuna; Moore.

Stoke (4-2-3-1):

Gunn; Smith, Souttar, Chester, Norrington-Davies; Allen, Thompson; Clarke, Powell, Brown; Fletcher.

  • Ones to watch

Kieffer Moore

Championship fans need no introduction to Kieffer Moore, with the striker in red-hot form so far this season - scoring 16 goals. Now an international with Wales, his journey through the lower leagues eventually saw him join Wigan Athletic last season, where he scored 10 goals as the Latics were relegated from the Championship.

The 28 year-old sits atop of the league's player standings for aerial duels won per-game, and will be looking to give Stoke's defenders a hard time in the air on Tuesday night.

Nick Powell

Nick Powell has been the Potters’ star man this season, imperative to every success they have had so far. With 11 goals and two assists to his name, the former Manchester United man is undoubtedly enjoying the best campaign of his career to date, after remaining unusually injury-free.

The 26-year-old has tried his utmost to pull City out of their recent rough patch, with five goals and an assist in his previous 10 games. Michael O'Neill could deploy him at either inside-left forward or attacking midfielder for the trip to Cardiff. 

  • Previous meetings

The reverse fixture saw the Bluebirds come out victorious, with second-half strikes from Sean Morrison and Robert Glatzel seeing them come from behind to win 2-1 in Staffordshire.

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Their last five meetings have produced two Cardiff wins, two draws and one Stoke win. 

The Potters’ last victory at the Cardiff City Stadium came in 2011, where a Jon Walters brace in an FA Cup Third Round Replay set Stoke on a cup run that ended at the FA Cup Final, which they ultimately lost. 

The match kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday March 16.

Match passes for iFollow coverage can be purchased from either club's website for £10 for customers in the UK and Ireland.

The game will also be available to watch on the Sky Sports Football red button.

  • What the managers have said

In the run-up to the game, Michael O'Neill urged fans to stay patient with the team, he said:

“I think the most important thing is to continue to believe what we’re doing at the club. We are trying to rebuild the club here and it’s going to take a little bit of time.

“Days like Saturday leave you scratching your head. It’s a setback, no doubt about that.

“We have to continue to make the team better, make the club better, try to bring better players to the club as well.”

He insisted that his players are ready for the challenge at Cardiff.

He said: “We’ll expect to see a reaction. It was a very quiet dressing room after the game and we have to make sure we’re ready for a very tough game at Cardiff, who have got themselves into a good position and are on a great run under Mick.

“We have to be able to deal with the challenge they pose. It will be a big physical challenge."

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