Stoke City play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon having put together an eight-match winless streak in the top flight, form which has left the club three points adrift of safety.
As for Spurs, the North London outfit will extend their advantage over fifth-placed Chelsea to 11 points if they can register victory at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke City
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Paul Lambert has reiterated that he has been left impressed by the performances being produced by his Stoke team, and the Scot is justified in talking up the application of his players since his arrival in January.
However, Stoke have reached a point where only results matter and unless they halt a winless run which has lasted since January 20, the Potters will be playing in the Championship next season.
Stoke and Lambert have reason to feel aggrieved with a couple of decisions that have not gone their way. Everton's opener in the 2-1 win before the international break came from an offside position and Arsenal's first goal last weekend was from a penalty which should not have been awarded.
Realistically speaking, however, Stoke would have - at most - only been two points better off given the circumstances in those respective matches and Lambert must instead focus his attention on the club's upcoming games, starting with Spurs on Saturday.
Stoke sit three points adrift from safety - which effectively becomes four given their goal difference - but even a point against their more illustrious opponents would be regarded as acceptable with four winnable games still to come in their remaining five fixtures.
From a momentum perspective, Stoke can ill afford a heavy defeat - which would represent a fourth successive setback in a row - because even in losing to both Everton and Arsenal, there were positives which could be taken and this is still a side which is capable of getting wins on the board.
However, if Stoke are to remain as a Premier League team, Xherdan Shaqiri will likely have to produce some more magic. The Swiss has seven goals and six assists to his name this season, but he has not contributed anything in his last four outings.
Lambert will head into this game with a depleted squad - and without Ibrahim Afellay and Saido Berahino for disciplinary reasons - but if Shaqiri can get back on the scoresheet, it could add some much-needed inspiration to a team lacking in goals.
Recent form: DDDLLL
Tottenham Hotspur
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When Spurs lost to Juventus in the Champions League at the start of March, the disappointment had the potential to linger and prevent the club from achieving their remaining goals for the season, but Mauricio Pochettino's side have responded positively to being eliminated in Europe.
Three victories have been recorded in a row - all away from Wembley Stadium - and 10 goals have been scored with Harry Kane absent for much of that period due to an ankle injury.
Those wins have put Spurs in prime position to achieve at least a top-four place in the standings, they have claimed a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals, and Pochettino has identified that he does not necessarily require a like-for-like replacement for Kane when he is unavailable.
Despite the club's failure in Europe, the future remains bright for a team who are still capable of finishing as high as second position in the top flight, and confidence will be high after claiming a rare triumph away at Chelsea.
The writing appeared on the wall when Spurs went behind in the first half, but their 28-year wait for a league success at Stamford Bridge came to an end due to the brilliance of an in-form Christian Eriksen and a player in Dele Alli who has failed to hit the heights of campaigns gone by.
There was little reason to doubt that Alli would eventually get back to contributing in a high-profile game, but the way that the England playmaker took his first goal suggests that he has been left unaffected by criticism which has come his way.
The result also maintained a quite astonishing record that Spurs have put together since the start of 2018. The North Londoners have conceded the opening goal in eight matches in all competitions, but Pochettino has watched his team avoid defeat in each of those games.
In the past, Spurs and Pochettino have been questioned for their mentality but that statistic alone suggests that this close-knit squad is only getting stronger, and it is difficult to back against them improving further during the closing weeks of the season.
Recent form: DWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWLWWW
Team News
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Pochettino is expected to hand a recall to Kane after the forward made a successful return from an ankle injury against Chelsea last weekend.
Erik Lamela is likely to be the man to drop out and barring any late injury issues, that could be Pochettino's only alteration.
Stoke boss Lambert has revealed that he is hopeful of having Kurt Zouma back after a knee injury, but the Scot is likely to keep faith with the back four that started against Arsenal.
Mame Biram Diouf also began that game, but the attacker is currently struggling with a calf injury, which could lead to Peter Crouch being brought back into the starting lineup and Xherdan Shaqiri moving out wide.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting remains on the sidelines with a groin injury and Kostas Stafylidis is still out with a broken rib.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Cameron, N'Diaye, Allen; Sobhi, Shaqiri, Crouch
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane
Head To Head
Saturday's match will represent the 94th competitive fixture between the two clubs, with Spurs recording 47 wins in comparison to 26 wins for Stoke.
Since gaining promotion to the top flight in 2008, Stoke have not fared too badly against Spurs with five wins and three draws coming from 19 encounters.
However, Spurs have won the last four - scoring 17 goals and conceding just one - with 4-0 victories being registered in their last two visits to the Staffordshire-based club.
We say: Stoke City 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke normally perform well in the Potteries and are capable of causing a surprise against the majority of the top teams in England, but Spurs have recently showed a clinical touch in front of goal and we expect that to continue at the bet365 Stadium.
Darren Plant
