The Potters have seen Seyi Olofinjana leave over the summer and Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead replace him, for the same money(well initially) and Whitehead seems certain to make his debut at the Britannia Stadium today.
Burnley have been busier in the transfer market, as you'd expect having won the play off's but no big name signings have made the switch to Turf Moor, but team unity is what will be the Clarets biggest weapon this season, just like the Potters, and big name players can have a very destabilising effect on that. Burnley have brought in David Edgar, who is suspended for tomorrows game, Richard Eckersley, Tyrone Mears, Brian Easton, Fernando Guerro and ex-Hibernians hitman Steven Fletcher, who at £3m is the big money signing of the summer.
Stoke will be without Michael Tonge, who is suffering from a bout of flu, and big striker Mama Sidibe, who is still a long way away from full fitness following his knee injury, whilst full backs Danny Higginbotham and Andy Wilkinson are both carying knocks and decisions will be made on them two.
Burnley have defensive issues and as already mentioned Edgar misses out with suspension, Steven Caldwell picked up an injury playing for Scotland midweek and although he isn't ruled out it is thought there is next to no chance he will play. Add to that Michael Duff ruled out with an injury picked up during pre-season and it seems the newboys will have to field a makeshift defence at the Britannia.
Pre-season form for both sides has been poor and Stoke didn;t manage one victory, whilst the Clarets only managed one themselves, against a semi-pro American side. The end of last season saw the Potters in superb form whilst Burnley's last competitive game was the play off final that saw a culmination of a great late run by themselves to secure promotion.
The Brit has been a bit of a happy hunting ground for the Clarets, they have five victories to just the one defeat in eight games, and they will be hoping that run continues. Goals don't usually flow in this fixture the last four games have seen just five goals.
A lot of Stoke players pick themselves, Whitehead should make his debut but TP must pick his partner with Delap and Whelan fighting it out. Wilkinson and Higginbotham may be forced to sit this one out with Shotton and Dickinson waiting in the wings. Up front is another conundrum, James Beattie was such a key player last season, Dave Kitson looks a completely new player and is netting for fun whilst Ricrado Fuller has been benched since his return from international return but when he has got on he has looked every bit the magician we know he is.
Steve Bennett is the man with the whistle. One of the lower profile ref's both sides will be hoping he isn't too whistle happy this afternoon
Prediction: Stoke to weather an early storm before showing their extra Premier League experience and opening the scoring just before half time through Dave Kitson. Fuller comes off the bench on the hour and nets a superb solo goal before Paterson's late consolation gets an applause from the Potters faithful