Stoke will be looking for a first win since August when they take on West Ham at the Britannia Stadium, hoping to avenge the double that the Hammers did on City last season. West Ham have had an awful start to the season, sitting second bottom, and the Potters will be hoping to heap more pressure on Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola.
Stoke are still without Mama Sidibe, Glenn Whelan is struggling with a calf strain, picked up on international duty, but Liam Lawrence should be fit for a return to the side after picking up a knock in last Saturdays game for the Republic of Ireland and he has also being having a painkilling injection in his back to help with a long standing niggle
West Ham will be without influential midfielder Scott Parker, who has already clocked up five bookings and is suspended for tomorrows game, a game for which he would have been relishing for its physical nature.
Recent form sees the Potters without a win in four league games, but they were games against Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea along with an injury time penalty denying them three points at Bolton, whilst the Hammers have struggled from the start of the season and currently sit second bottom, with just four points.
Recent games between these two have usually gone the way of the Hammers with the Londoners triumphing in seven of the last eight meetings, whilst the Potters haven't even scored past the Irons in three games at the Britannia Stadium. In fact you have to go back to 1983, or seven games, before you find the last Potters home win. Overall the teams head to head is quite equal, 31 wins to 27 in West Ham's favour, with the Potters having 21 victories to West Ham's 12 in games played at Stoke.
The referee on Sunday is Martin Atkinson The man in black has not reffed the Potters yet this season but was the referee who sent off Rory Delap during last seasons game against Manchester City.
The Met Office reports that there during the time of the game there will be overcast conditions, with breaks of sunshine, and minor winds of 3-6mph and temperature of 10 degress Celsius with very good visibility.
Prediction: Stoke to keep it tight early on before taking the lead shortly after half time through Ricardo Fuller. West Ham come more into it but Etherington seals the result in injury time.