Ewood Park, Saturday 1500 GMTBLACKBURN ROVERS:
Neil McDonald plans to hand Sam Allardyce a welcome home present - three points.
McDonald has been in temporary charge while Allardyce has undergone minor heart surgery, but with Allardyce hoping to be back behind his desk at the training ground on Monday, McDonald is anxious to ensure the manager returns with a smile on his face.
McDonald has taken three points from his two games in charge, a 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Wednesday taking the gloss off a 2-0 victory at Bolton last Sunday.
But Blackburn have been dominant at home and McDonald is demanding standards do not drop ahead of next Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter final at home to Chelsea.
"I am pleased with the way the players are applying themselves even though the manager has not been here," said McDonald.
"They are really comfortable on the ball, which is good but if you do not have the killer instinct you will struggle. We had a lack of that killer instinct against Fulham, despite lots of possession and it was like a knife in the back when they scored."
Strategy: This is the type of match that the producers of Match of the Day have already designated for a 60 second slot at the end of Saturday night's programme. Yet a horrible 1-0 win over a hard-to-beat Stoke side would be just the tonic for Allardyce. Vince Grella, who returned to the midfield at Fulham after injury, is demanding Rovers return to winning ways. "Stoke are a very similar club to ourselves. It's important we win," said the Australian.
STOKE CITY:
Abdoulaye Faye, a player discovered by Allardyce and subsequently coveted by the Blackburn manager this summer, is desperate to play a part in Stoke's pursuit of a victory at the Lancashire club.
Faye was signed by Allardyce at both Bolton and Newcastle and even now remains on his radar after an excellent 18 months with Tony Pulis's Potters.
The Senegal international has become a cult figure at the Britannia Stadium and played a key role in their success last season but faces a battle to regain his place for this game.
He sat out Stoke's win over Portsmouth last Sunday through suspension and, although he returns to the squad for this game, admits he is prepared to start on the bench - even if the game does see Stoke pitted against Allardyce's Rovers.
"Sam is a great guy and I have a lot of respect for him," he said. "My thoughts will be with him when he undergoes the operation.
"I hope that everything goes well. When you play against his teams, it is like games against Tony Pulis. He doesn't like the team to keep the ball. It will be a tough game against a side with a tough manager.
"Blackburn have been going well under Sam recently, apart from the Fulham match, but I am confident we can go there and continue our excellent start to the season."
Strategy: Stoke will be looking to furnish Ricardo Fuller with opportunities because he is finally up and running after his excellent goal against Portsmouth. Pulis has backed the striker to continue where he left off. "Ric is streaky and it's not inconceivable for him to score 10 goals in the next 12 games," said the Stoke manager.
"I was delighted he got his first goal last weekend and it's taken a little bit of pressure off him." Blackburn proved in their dismal defeat at Fulham that Allardyce will have plenty to ponder when he returns to the training ground. and Stoke's threat at set pieces could be vital against a defence that still looks dangerously porous.
Injury Update: Faye returns from suspension but may have to contend with a place on the bench, after Andy Wilkinson's impressive display against Pompey. Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan is expected to return to the squad after recovering from a groin injury.
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