TEAM NEWS

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross will be available after serving his one-match ban in midweek in the Capital One Cup.

Striker Peter Crouch is ruled out with a hamstring injury, but Mame Diouf should be available after missing Tuesday's match for family reasons.

Manchester City will be without Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure through injury, while Eliaquim Mangala is suspended.

However, goalkeeper Joe Hart has recovered from the hamstring problem that ruled him out last weekend.

David Silva could make his first league start since the beginning of October, but captain Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Samir Nasri remain out.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Guy Mowbray: "Before this fixture last season, Mark Hughes was wary of facing 'a wounded animal'.

"This time the visitors are the walking wounded, with Yaya Toure joining an injury list that still includes Sergio Aguero.

"It had been hoped that Aguero would start alongside Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva for the first time since six were put past Newcastle.

"Scoring won't be so easy against a Stoke side with Ryan Shawcross back from suspension.

"The Potters have yet to concede a league goal with their captain on the field this season."

Twitter: @Guymowbray 

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "They are a good side and we know that at some point during the game they will try and impose their quality on us.

"If we allow them to do that then they will cause us problems, we know that. It is about us being really resolute and navigating that.

"If we can do that then with the quality that we have within the squad then we can cause them problems - I am certain of that. We are more than comfortable against the top teams."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini : "It's important to be aggressive from the start against Stoke from the first minute. Especially in the first 15-20 minutes, they want to make the difference so it's important to be good from the start.

"Last year they make a mix of styles - they try to not always play with high balls and just with crosses. They try to have more possession."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I am backing Manuel Pellegrini's side to win this weekend, even though it looks like Vincent Kompany will still be out injured.

Stoke don't create enough chances for me, which is what is holding them back a bit at the moment.

Lawro's full predictions v Tim Burgess

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Stoke have only won one of their previous 12 Premier League meetings with Manchester City (D5, L6). That was a 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium in August 2014.
• Five of the last six meetings between these teams at the Britannia Stadium have ended in draws.

Stoke City

• Stoke have lost only two of their last nine league games (W5, D2).
• The Potters have kept a clean sheet in five of their previous seven league matches.
• They are the division's lowest scorers, with 11 goals in 14 matches.
• Games involving Stoke have produced just 25 goals so far this season, fewer than any other team in the Premier League.
• Charlie Adam is one appearance away from his 100th in the Premier League for Stoke.

Manchester City

• Manchester City have gone three games without an away victory in the league (D2, L1).
• Their last two away league matches - against Manchester United and Aston Villa - ended goalless.
• They have kept a clean sheet in five of their six away matches in the league this season.
• City have attempted a league-high 241 shots so far this season.
• Kevin De Bruyne has provided 26 goal assists since the start of last season, more than any other player in Europe's major leagues. He has six in the Premier League for Manchester City.