Mark Hughes' side made an encouraging start to the new campaign, but have struggled to follow up back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace and West Ham in August.
An improved performance at Old Trafford in Stoke's last league outing went unrewarded as Manchester United came from behind to claim a 3-2 victory.
However, despite occupying 17th place in the table, Stoke have lost only once on home soil and go into this weekend’s game buoyed by qualification for the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
In addition, Mauricio Pochettino's men boast the best defensive record in the league having conceded just three in nine games.
Stoke have managed a paltry six top-flight goals thus far, although two of those did come last weekend and four different players – Oussama Assaidi, Peter Crouch, Marko Arnautovic and Kenwyne Jones - were on target in the club's midweek cup tie.
