Stoke are sweating over the fitness of key man Ricardo Fuller, the Jamaican picked up a groin strain in the midweek cup win over Blackpool. Fellow striker James Beattie, who Fuller replaced, is also facing a race to be fit after aggravating an ankle injury against the Seasiders. Defensive midfielder Diego Arismendi is out with a hamstring strain, also picked up in midweek, whilst long term absentee Mama Sidibe is back in training but weeks, and a possible loan spell, away from a comeback.
Manchester United rested their entire side in midweek and Michael Owen, who set up Welbeck for the only goal, may get a rare start alongside Rooney with Berbatov struggling. Ex-Potter Ben Foster is also rumoured to be on the chopping block, with Thomas Kuszyak on standby for a recall.
Stoke's recent form is up and down, the last three games have been decided in injury time. First Chelsea scored a 94th minute winner before Bolton equalised on 90 minutes last Saturday. Tuesday brought a better ending as Andy Griffin won a seven goal thriller in the 96th minute.
Last season saw the champions do the double over the Potters as a Ronaldo double helped them to a 5-0 home win before Carlos Tevez sneaked home a 86th minute winner after Andy Wilkinson had been sent off minutes earlier. That result was even more frustrating after the failure to penalise both Rooney and Ronaldo for and elbow and stamp repectively before Wilkinson, seeking retribution, went straight through the Portuguese winger to earn a second yellow card. City have decent recent history at home to Man Utd, before last season they had beaten the Red Devils 3-1 in a friendly in August 2003, 2-1 in the Carling Cup in September 1992 and 2-1 in the last league encounter 23 years previous.
Stoke will no doubt revert back to the side that drew with Bolton last Saturday. If Fuller doesn't make it then Tuncay would seem the natural replacement. Wilkinson put in a great performance midweek but will struggle to push Huth out of the side after the Germans quality performance last Saturday, as the Stone born full back sat it out with food poisoning. Collins will be hoping for a chance to redeem his late mistake at the Reebok and should hold off the challenge of Higginbotham.
Prediction: Stoke set a high tempo and score first through Ryan Shawcross before second half equaliser from Rooney