Stoke City: Match tactics

RYAN Shawcross's wait for a second chance looks like ending this weekend as he is expected to get the nod to partner Abdoulaye Faye at the heart of the Stoke defence.

Ibrahima Sonko limped out of the Tottenham game and, as he attempts to recover from a groin strain, Shawcross has moved into pole position.

Shawcross was picked ahead of Leon Cort to be on the bench against Spurs, so logic suggests he will be selected ahead of Cort on Sunday.

Shawcross didn't have his best game in Stoke's 3-1 defeat at Bolton on the opening day of the season, but the 21-year-old proved his quality in helping Stoke to automatic promotion last season.

Pulis has resisted all attempts from Championship clubs to take Shawcross on loan. Now it seems the former Manchester United player's patience will be rewarded with a start.

Shawcross played alongside Abdoulaye Faye after coming on as an 83rd-minute sub for the Spurs win.

The excellent Faye's experience will offer Shawcross any guidance he needs on Sunday, but Pulis wouldn't be throwing the youngster in if he didn't feel he could look after himself.

Keeper Thomas Sorensen is expected to reclaim his place in the side having been forced off midway through the second half against Tottenham. Sorensen suffered a nasty gash and swelling under his right eye after connecting with Alan Hutton's studs, but the Dane expects to be available to play.

Expect no change at full-back where both Andy Griffin, on the right, and Danny Higginbotham on the left, had good games against Tottenham.

Griffin did an excellent job on Spurs left winger Aaron Lennon, while Higginbotham's sound display also included a nerveless penalty.

Should Stoke get a spot-kick on Sunday then Higginbotham might just grab the ball ahead of Ricardo Fuller.

The striker took the responsibility for City's second penalty against Spurs, but watched in disbelief as his effort rattled against both posts before falling to Rory Delap, whose effort hit the bar.

Higginbotham, however, will be more concerned about his defensive duties against a City side who are expected to line up with a five-man midfield and Brazilian Jo as their lone striker.

The 6ft 2in target man Jo has plenty of skill but, at just 21, still lacks some strength.

Man City are being linked with moves for Wigan's Zaki and Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz in January when Mark Hughes is expected to splash some of City's new-found wealth.

EXPECT Tony Pulis to stick with Tom Soares after the 22-year-old made a fine impression on his full debut last Sunday.

Soares gave City pace and penetration on the right to compensate for the absence of ankle-injury victim Liam Lawrence.

The versatile Rory Delap will continue on the left, leaving Salif Diao and Seyi Olofinjana to continue their central midfield partnership.

As against Tottenham, Stoke are expected to face a five-man midfield as Manchester City manager Mark Hughes looks to get the best out of his talented squad.

He is expected to deploy Vincent Kompany and Dietmar Hamann as holding midfielders, allowing the attacking trio of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland and Robinho to flood forward in support of lone striker Jo.

The three attacking midfielders tend to swap positions, so City's midfield and defence will have to be at their best against a side who can hurt the opposition through Ireland's vision, Robinho's ability on the ball and Wright Phillips's pace.

Stoke suffered their worst spell against Tottenham last week when they sat back and allowed the Spurs players too much time on the ball.

Tony Pulis will be keen his side don't give Manchester City's much-vaunted midfield the same luxury, even though the home side will inevitably have the greater share of possession.

TONY Pulis faces the huge decision of whether to stick with Dave Kitson or drop his £5.5m signing for the first time.

There's no easy solution because Kitson has undoubted quality and pedigree at this level.

However, he wasn't as effective as Mama Sidibe on Sunday when the two strikers started the game together.

Ricardo Fuller, who started on the bench last week following international duty, will surely go back into the starting line-up.

He offers City precious pace up front as well as confidence in front of goal.

That leaves Pulis to choose from Kitson and Sidibe and, on current form, the Mali international would get the nod.

Manchester City are hoping right-back Micah Richards recovers from the ankle injury he suffered in the 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Monday night.

It was initially feared Richards had broken his ankle, but that was not the case and the England international has not yet been ruled out of the game.

The hosts will be keen for him to play because Richards is their best defender in the air and so a useful defence against Stoke's set-piece expertise.

Should Richards fail to make it then England under-21 international Nedum Onouha could come in at right-back.

Argentinian Pablo Zabaletta, who would usually play at right-back, is serving a three-game ban after he was sent off for a wild lunge on Xabi Alonso in the 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool.

Richard Dunne leads from central defence, where he is expected to partner the less convincing Tal Ben-Haim.

Javier Garrido, the £1.5m signing from Sociedad, is expected to continue at left-back.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart, the 21-year-old England prospect, completes the line-up having impressed since he was given his first-team chance by Sven Goran Eriksson last season.