Stoke v QPR
Stoke boss Tony Pulis hopes to have three key players back for Saturday's Premier League clash with QPR at the Britannia Stadium.
Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson (both muscle strains) and Matthew Etherington (back) could all return after missing the 5-0 defeat at Bolton before the international break.
Mamady Sidibe (knee) remains sidelined whilst Ricardo Fuller is still not fit after an Achilles problem.
Stoke have been beaten in four of their last five matches, and Pulis has called for stout hearts as they aim to get through this mini-crisis.
"We have gone from what we were to what we are now and the transition has been enormous," Pulis said.
"We've got to adjust and deal with it and the only way we will do that is with everyone pulling together and having a go.
"That includes our great supporters, as well as the players responding. Everyone needs to be a part of it."
QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt is expected to be rested after a week with Morocco on international duty, though manager Neil Warnock does have midfielder Akos Buzsaky available after his Achilles problem.
Bradley Orr (Achilles) and defender Matt Connolly (ankle) are close to a return but defender Fitz Hall is set to miss out with a hamstring problem.
Midfielder Kieron Dyer could be close to a return after he started running on his injured foot in training this week. Striker DJ Campbell has had a protective boot removed from his foot and is likely to return to full training in two to three weeks.
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Teams:
Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Nash, Huth, Upson, Woodgate, Shawcross, Wilson, Wilkinson, Whelan, Whitehead, Diao, Etherington, Walters, Jerome, Shotton, Arismendi, Pennant, Delap, Crouch, Palacios, Jones, Higginbotham.
QPR (from): Kenny, Hall, Gabbidon, Connolly, Taarabt, Traore, Bothroyd, Faurlin, Orr, Buzsaky, Dyer, Barton, Young, Smith, Helguson, Murphy, Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand, Puncheon.
