The Potters travel to Eastlands on Tuesday looking for revenge over the side who, just three days earlier, denied them in the clubs first ever FA Cup final and the chance to win only the second major trophy for the Potters.
Stoke sit 9th in the Premier League and arrived in the final in fantastic form, but were dispatched 1-0 by the Citizens. The hosts are sitting nineteen points ahead of Stoke in the league and are four places higher in the top half of the table but will go third with another victory.
Stoke have already beaten West Brom, Blackburn and Newcastle away from home this season but have lost 12 times aswell and all those victories came before Christmas. The Blues have won 12 of their 18 home games, losing just twice.
The sides have met 48 times in Manchester, with 29 home wins, 7 Potters victories and 12 draws. The last Potters win was in October 1997, by one goal to nil. In the 97 matches between these sides, the Potters have won 35, the North West side 41 times and twenty one have been drawn.
The referee is Lee Probert. He reffed Stoke in their 2-1 away defeat at Wolves and 1-0 reverse at Everton, whilst also taking charge of the 2-1 win over Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium and the 3-2 home win over Sunderland. He has refereed Manchester City twice this season, in their 1-0 home win against Reading and 2-0 victory at home to West Brom.
The Met Office report that there will be overcast conditions, temperatures of a mild 13 degrees celsius, good visibility but a weak 10mph wind.
Prediction: The Potters show more desire than their fellow cup finalists and wrap up the points courtesy of an early Kenwyne Jones strike