Preview: City v Stoke

This season's FA Cup has proven an especially interesting one for the purists, with three of the big four, if we're still including Liverpool, exiting in the early rounds. That in mind, it would be a shame if we ballsed up what looks like a favourable fifth round tie at home to the oatcake munchers. Progression and a favourable draw could have us dreaming of Wembley again for the first time since, well, last month.

Hard to say who Pulis will select given the league game days later. They certainly have options, though, and a squad that's surprisingly strong. Tuncay impressed in the home league fixture. Him and Sidibe might be the two favourites to start, but Ricardo Fuller already has two goals in the competition, and although his better work so far this season has been from the bench, he's the sort of unpredictable livewire that i'm sure defenders don't like playing against.

Matt Etherington's form of late has quite rightly been earning him plaudits. Given his recent performances i'd imagine he'll start, with Dean Whitehead and Glen Whelan (or Rory Delap) central of a very rigid 4-4-2. Tuncay could drop into a right-wing role, though Liam Lawrence is also available.

Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth will almost certainly be at the centre of the defence, with Asmir Begovic's appearances for Pompey in the earlier rounds of the competition meaning number one Thomas Sorensen ought to continue. Huth has played at right-back occasionally, however, and so Amdy Faye, if over a back injury, could force a rethink. Andy Wilkinson and either Higginbotham or Collins most likely, though, i'd have thought.

I anticipate Roberto will go with quite a strong side given that progression to the latter stages of the competition could increase his chances of staying on for next season. Craig Bellamy is perhaps most likely to earn another rest given our run of league fixtures, but otherwise i hope to see quite a similar side to the one that beat Bolton, with onlyAdam Johnson (cup tied) and Vince Kompany (groin) being replaced and some tinkering with the formation.

I'm sure Mancini will have noted both the clunky performance that night and the reaction to it from the terraces. Shaun Wright-Phillips did enough in his cameo to encourage a more attacking and fluid system and i think he'll come in for Johnson, and we'll hopefully see a return to the 4-4-2 with someone on the opposite flank more natural in the role, though Barry does seem to be one of Roberto's favourites.

The biggest question facing the manager ahead of the game could be who replaces the injured Kompany, who tweaked his problem groin midweek. Joleon Lescott looked quite comfortable when introduced on Tuesday, but two games in under a week may be a big ask. Dedryck had a poor game at Hull but his partnership with Kompany had generally shown signs of promise. Given that Stoke could start with two big lumps up front we'll have to get the decision right.

The Potters away form this season has been pretty terrible; only two wins and six goals on the road, with Tuncay's leveller at Wigan the first they've bagged on their travels since early November. They've little to lose by going for it on Saturday, especially given as they're well on their way to survival, and i don't think they'll be either paying us too much respect nor hoping for a replay.

With all due respect to the opposition, we should progress into the next round, but Pulis would have taken heart from our showing on Tuesday, and a side with both a bit more physicality and edge up front could have got something from that game. If Stoke come at us like Bolton did, or more so we let them, then the result mightn't be such a foregone conclusion. Positive team selection is key.

Possible teams:
City: Given, Zabaleta, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, de Jong, Wright-Phillips, Vieira, Tevez, Adebayor, Petrov

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Collins, Huth, Shawcross, Whitehead, Tuncay, Delap, Fuller, Sidibe, Etherington

Prediction: City 2 Stoke 1