Manchester City

Nobody likes playing Stoke, and if City win at the Britannia they may have to be taken seriously as title contenders. Both teams are in form, Stoke having won their last three and City impressing with a 4-1 victory at Fulham. Roberto Mancini will be loth to change a winning team, but Pablo Zabaleta is suspended and Mario Balotelli available again after serving a ban. Gareth Barry and Jérôme Boateng are both expected to overcome ankle trouble. Stoke have doubts about Andy Wilkinson (knee) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring), but Jon Walters, who scored twice at West Brom last week, has recovered from the groin injury he sustained at The Hawthorns. Joe Lovejoy

Venue Britannia Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £35-45 (0871 663 2007)

Last season Stoke 1 Manchester City 1

Referee P Walton

This season's matches 8 Y23, R1, 3.00 cards per game

Odds Stoke 5-2 Manchester City 5-4 Draw 9-4

StokeSubs from Sorensen, Wilson, Whelan, Faye, Gudjohnsen, Higginbotham, Tuncay, Diao, Pennant, Soares

Doubtful Pennant (hamstring), Wilkinson (knee)

Injured Sidibe (achilles, Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWLLL

Disciplinary record Y26 R1

Leading scorer Jones 4

Manchester CitySubs from Given, Richards, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, A Johnson, Santa Cruz, Lescott, Boyata, M Johnson, Balotelli, Ibrahim, Vieira

Doubtful Barry (ankle), Boateng (ankle), M Johnson (knee)

Injured Nimely (ankle, Jan)

Suspended Zabaleta (one match)

Form guide WDDWLL

Disciplinary record Y29 R2

Leading scorer Tevez 9

Match pointers• The last three times these sides have met in the month of November (1974, 1966 and 1933), the match has ended in a 1-0 win for City

• If matches ended at half-time this season, Stoke would be bottom with seven points

• Carlos Tevez has scored 30 goals in his last 36 top-flight appearances

• Kenwyne Jones has attempted more headed shots (21) than any other player

• Zoltan Gera's goal against City in their last match was the first time they had conceded in over 370 minutes of Premier League football