It's back. Ninety-seven days since Stoke's Premier League season 2009/10 fizzled out with a 4-0 defeat at Manchester United, the new campaign is upon us. What better place to start it than with the shortest away trip of the season to Molineux, where a band of optimistic and vocal Potters will head tomorrow full of hope for the next eight months and determined to see their club stamp home its Staffordshire supremacy over Wolves.
TEAM NEWS
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has a near full-strength squad to take on the short trip south. Irish international midfielders Glenn Whelan and Liam Lawrence are fitness doubts though, Whelan having picked up a calf strain in pre-season and Lawrence, who remains a Stoke player despite speculation about his future having suffered a groin injury while training with Ireland this week. Club captain Abdoulaye Faye's place in the side is also in jeopardy as he struggles with the latest in a long line of niggles that, after a sensational first season at the club, have sadly made him only a bit-part player in recent months. Faye's absence looks likely to mean that Danny Collins is given the nod ahead of Andy Wilkinson to start at the back, meaning Robert Huth should feature at right back.
Away supporters will be keen to get a first look at Kenwyne Jones back in a Stoke shirt after the Trinidadian moved to the Britannia Stadium from feeder club Sunderland for a club record £8 million on Wednesday. There has been much speculation this summer as to which of Thomas Sorensen and Asmir Begovic will be Pulis's first choice goalkeeper going into the new season. After the young Bosnian was handed the squad number one, Begovic seems favourite for the role.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will be without last season's star striker Kevin Doyle as he begins in his attempt to follow in Pulis's footsteps in keeping a promoted club up in the top flight for a second season, as the Irishman has a calf problem, while full back Ronald Zubar is also sidelined through injury. There will be plenty of new faces on show to excite the home fans though; McCarthy's summer acquisitions forward Steven Fletcher, defenders Steven Mouyokolo, who was also linked with Stoke, and Jelle Van Damme and midfielders Stephen Hunt and Geoffrey Mujangi Bia could all play a part.
Possible Stoke Side:
Begovic
Huth Shawcross Higginbotham Collins
Tuncay Whitehead Delap Etherington
Jones Fuller
Subs: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Faye, Pugh, Tonge, Marshall, Sidibe
Possible Wolves Side:
Hahnemann
Stearman Craddock Mouyokolo Van Damme
Kightly Guediora Henry Jarvis
Fletcher Keogh
Subs: Hennessey, Berra, Ward, Hunt, Milijaš, Mujangi Bia, Ebanks-Blake
FORM
As it's the first game of the new season, both sides will go into it feeling confident and keen to get off to the perfect start. Recent history may be on Stoke's side though as Wolves have not won on the opening day of a league season since 1999, while the Potters kicked off the 2004/05 season with a 2-1 home triumph over tomorrow's opponents. Last season the clubs shared two draws, Wolves coming from behind well to earn a 2-2 tie at the Britannia Stadium and playing out a dull goalless game at Molineux. All in all however, Wolves have had the measure of Stoke, tasting victory in 63 of the clubs' 143 meetings. Stoke have won 46 and 34 have been drawn.
PLAYER LINKS
None of the current Stoke squad have ever played for Wolves, but both Wolves's captain and vice-captain have pulled on a red and white striped shirt. Their skipper, Karl Henry, played 120 games in Stoke's midfield and defence between 2000 and 2006, while his deputy, Jody Craddock, featured in four matches on loan in the Potteries three years ago. Perhaps the most famous played to have represented both clubs is Welsh international defender George Berry. Something of a cult figure at both clubs with his afro hairstyle, he played 124 times for Wolves between 1976 and 1982 and 237 for Stoke in the eight years that followed, scoring and impressive 27 goals.
THE REFEREE
38 year-old Lee Probert from Gloucestershire will take charge of the match. He has previously received a mixed reception from Stoke fans, excelling in the 2009 win over Wigan but inexplicably disallowing a Mamady Sidibe goal that would have earned the Potters a point at Aston Villa last December. He last refereed Wolves as they slipped to a Premier League defeat at Birmingham in February. In a feisty encounter settled by two late Kevin Phillips goals he showed nine yellow cards.
THE WEATHER
Opening days seem so often to be bathed in glorious sunshine, but this is unlikely to be the case this year, as light rain is forecast for Wolverhampton. With the pitch in pristine condition after a summer of preparation, this shouldn't bother either sides, though fans may be advised to bring a coat.
PREDICTION
Last season both sides struggled for goals and with neither wanting to begin the season with a loss, a cagey match is on the cards, perhaps a 1-1 draw with debut goals from Fletcher and Jones. Wolves 1-1 Stoke
Enjoy the game and the season to come