Stoke City will be looking to end their poor run of just one win in their last six games as Derby County, who are without a win in six themselves, make the short trip across the A50 on Saturday.

The Potters played out a goalless draw at Cardiff City on Tuesday, an improvement on their 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough last weekend.

Wayne Rooney’s Derby came from 2-0 down to earn a point against promotion hopefuls Brentford last time out, the first time they had found the back of the net in five games.

The hosts could be without Steven Fletcher, who had to be substituted due to a head injury suffered at Cardiff in midweek. Michael O’Neill is also still without Morgan Fox, Sam Clucas and James McClean through injury.

Stoke under-23s forward Christian Norton made his senior debut as a substitute on Tuesday night and showed enough promise to be involved again at the weekend.

Colin Kazim-Richards is a doubt for the visitors after he picked up a knock in the game against Brentford, but Rooney is hopeful that he will be available.

Tom Lawrence could be in contention to start as he made a substitute appearance on Tuesday after three months out injured. Lee Gregory is unable to face his parent club.

  • Predicted lineups

Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Davies; Smith, Souttar, Chester, Norrington-Davies; Allen, Mikel; Brown, Powell, Clarke; Vokes.

Derby County (3-4-2-1): Roos; Wisdom, Mengi, Clarke; Byrne, Knight, Shinnie, Buchanan; Sibley, Lawrence; Kazim-Richards.

  • Ones to watch

Wales international Adam Davies returned to the Stoke side in the goalless draw at Cardiff and has impressed between the sticks for the Potters since he was given a chance at the end of last season. Davies has kept eight clean sheets in 12 and a half games in all competitions this season.

Louie Sibley’s impressive late equaliser against Brentford was the 19-year-old’s first strike of the campaign after he burst onto the scene at the end of last season. His manager Rooney believes the goal will give him a boost to kick on in the latter stages of the season.

  • Previous meetings

The two sides last met at Pride Park back in December and the points were shared in a dull goalless draw. The Rams have not won a league game in the Potteries since November 2005.

This game is a 3pm kick-off and will be available to watch on both sides’ respective iFollow pages for £10.

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