Early team news
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay is set to rotate his squad for Wednesday's Premier League meeting with Stoke.
Craig Bellamy and Peter Odemwingie maybe set for starting roles having been on the bench for Saturday's defeat against Arsenal, with winger Craig Noone another possibility.
But striker Andreas Cornelius may have to wait for his first league start as Mackay looks to manage his return from a lengthy lay-off with an ankle injury.
Jonathan Walters' run of 102 consecutive top-flight starts for Stoke is under threat because of a thigh problem.
The striker is a doubt at the Britannia Stadium, which defender Robert Huth and forward Marko Arnautovic will definitely miss.
Huth has had a successful operation on his knee and could be back in three to four weeks while Arnautovic is still recovering from a hamstring strain.
The managers:
Mark Hughes
"Cardiff will make it difficult and we'll have to match that but we have more than enough to take it away from them.
"They are really strong, they'll chase every ball and lost cause and we need to match that. They will view this game as an opportunity but we are the home side and we need to take advantage of that."
Malky Mackay
"We know what league we're in, and right now it's about having the belief and calmness. What matters is where we are in May.
"We have two tough away games coming up, but we've just faced two of the biggest sides in Europe, and we've acquitted ourselves really well."
Match Appointments
Referee: Michael Oliver. Assistants: S Ledger, D Eaton. Fourth Official: J Adcock.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The sides have only met four times before in the top flight, with the most recent encounter a goalless draw at Stoke's Victoria Ground on 14 February 1953. The Potters are unbeaten in their last six league and cup games against the Bluebirds (W4, D2).Stoke City
Stoke City have only won one of their last 10 Premier League games (W1, D4, L5). The Potters are one of three teams yet to score a headed goal this season, along with Tottenham and West Ham. They have only conceded three goals in six home league games this season. Only Manchester City and Southampton (two goals conceded) have a better defensive record at home.Cardiff City
Prior to the latest round of matches, only Fulham (83) had allowed more shots on target against them than Cardiff City this season (81). Victory against Swansea is Cardiff's only win in their last seven league games (W1, D2, L4). The 3-0 loss to Arsenal was Cardiff's heaviest top-flight home defeat since a 4-0 loss to Leicester in April 1962.
Squads:
Stoke (from): Begovic, Sorensen, Pieters, Muniesa, Shawcross, Wilson, Cameron, Wilkinson, Whelan, Pennant, Palacios, Shea, Nzonzi, Adam, Assaidi, Etherington, Ireland, Jones, Walters, Crouch.
Cardiff (from): Marshall, Connolly, Taylor, Caulker, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Cornelius, Campbell, Odemwingie, Brayford, Kim, Smith, Noone, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Cowie, Maynard, Theophile-Catherine, Lewis, Moore, Bellamy, John.
Source: Cardiff City Online
Source: FOOTYMAD
