Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between West Brom and Stoke at The Hawthorns as the hosts seek the point that would guarantee their top-flight survival.

West Bromwich Albion welcome Stoke City to The Hawthorns on Sunday having just about limped over the line in terms of securing their Premier League safety.

A point against the Potters will guarantee survival, which is otherwise all but secured due to Norwich City needing to beat Arsenal and benefit from a 17-goal swing that would see Albion dragged into the bottom three.

While Pepe Mel has fulfilled his brief of keeping the Baggies up, their current points total of 36 is the lowest that they have accumulated in the five seasons since their most recent promotion.

The December sacking of Steve Clarke, who had led them to their best Premier League finish of eighth seven months before, is therefore difficult to to justify, especially considering Mel's uncertain future.

It seems that Albion could be poised for another change in the dugout in the summer, with the Spaniard being heavily linked with a move back to La Liga and seemingly short of boardroom support.

Stoke, on the other hand, will be very happy with their managerial appointment, with Mark Hughes building on the Tony Pulis foundations while implementing a more attractive playing style in his debut season.

In contrast to their opponents, the Potters are poised to record some Premier League bests, with their first top-half finish already secured and a draw on Sunday enough to beat their previous highest points total of 47.

The acquisition of former Baggies forward Peter Odemwingie in January gave the Stoke attack some much-needed pace, although the Nigerian is likely to be greeted with boos when he returns to the club which he famously tried to force a move away from 18 months ago.

Hughes has admitted this week that he would like to sign Oussama Assaidi on a permanent basis, but the Liverpool loanee is unavailable for the trip across the Midlands after aggravating a knee injury.

Ryan Shawcross, who was voted Player of the Year by the club's fans on Tuesday night, should be recalled in central defence after serving his suspension for his dismissal in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Albion trio Zoltan Gera, Steven Reid and Billy Jones have been ruled out of the final game of the season, but Jonas Olsson and Morgan Amalfitano should both start after missing the 2-0 loss at Sunderland in midweek.

Liam Ridgewell has resumed training following a spell on the sidelines, but will probably not be rushed back for the season finale, with Mel again likely to ask captain Chris Brunt to fill in at left-back.

Recent form

West Brom: LLWLDW

Stoke: WLDWLW

Possible starting lineups

West Brom: Foster; McAuley, Lugano, Olsson, Brunt; Yacob, Morrison; Amalfitano, Dorrans, Sessegnon, Berahino

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; N'Zonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Ireland, Odemwingie; Crouch

Sports Mole says: 1-2