Midfielder Charlie Adam does not believe the financial gulf between Stoke and Manchester City means they cannot compete at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
A Potters side registering nine changes comfortably saw off Portsmouth in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night but the quality of their opponents makes a considerable leap from the top of Sky Bet League Two to the Barclays Premier League champions on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have been strengthened to the tune of 53million with the summer arrivals of Fernando, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Bruno Zuculini and Eliaquim Mangala.
By comparison Stoke's main financial outlay was the £3million spent on former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic in addition to the free transfers of Phil Bardsley, Steve Sidwell and Mame Biram Diouf.
City's formidable squad is mirrored in their home record which saw them win 17 league games last season, dropping just five points.
But Adam insist that is no reason to fear a trip to the Etihad Stadium.
"I think them and Chelsea are the ones competing for the league and Liverpool are there as well as they have brought in a number of players," he said.
"They have great quality but if we are ready and 'at it' we can give ourselves a great chance.
"Clubs are buying players for £60million so money does talk and there is a massive gulf in the Premier League but it is men against men and if we apply ourselves right and are solid and disciplined then we will have a chance.
"They have an array of talent but at the end of the day they might have an off-day and we can cause an upset.
"We need to go and try to have a go at them but be sensible as they are one of the best teams in Europe, the champions of England, and although it will be tough we know what we need to do.
"We have been in this Premier League for six years now and we have done okay so we will keep going the way we are.
"I think we have added the right number of players and the right quality this year and not spent much money and the Bosmans (free transfers) we have brought in have been good.
"You can only improve and we have done that on where we were last season."
Stoke have not beaten City since January 2009 and away from home their last win was almost 17 years ago.
But buoyed by some good performances against Pompey from the likes of on-loan debutant Victor Moses, defender Marc Muniesa and two-goal striker Jon Walters, Adam believes the Potters head to Manchester with confidence.
"You need 25 players every week ready to go and we have got that," he added.
"It is difficult to get in (the side) but when you are in you have to stay in and last night a number of the boys did themselves no harm.
"We showed great attitude and a will to work hard, we did the job and that was the important thing. We can now move forward to Saturday now.
"I've been in and out and you just need to wait your time as other lads have got the jersey at the moment.
"You just have to keep going and push as hard as you can to get back in.
"There is a lot of competition and that is what you need in the Premier League."
Manager Mark Hughes is more than happy with the state of his squad and does not expect to see any changes before the transfer deadline.
He will be without utility player Geoff Cameron for a couple of weeks after he sustained a thigh strain against Portsmouth but is hopeful defender Bardsley and Bojan will be available to face City.
"I will be very surprised if we will be doing any business, in or out," said the Potters boss.
"Things might change at the weekend but I doubt it very much.
"I am happy with the group we have got. It will be feet up and watch the mayhem (on deadline day)."
Hughes admits Moses' performance against Portsmouth has given him something to think about.
"He is in my thoughts. I thought he was excellent last night and I think he showed everyone the talent he has and the reasons I brought him in," he added.
"He is powerful in retention of the ball, which is what we want in key areas.
"I was conscious he had only had 13 mintes of game time in pre-season but he made a real claim to be involved.
"We looked at the situation, we want to be strong in wide areas, which we were last year.
"It was not for the lack of trying. We tried to bring in a number of players and then all of a sudden an opportunity was presented to us of getting Victor here and we pursued it vigorously.
"He hasn't had as much game time as his talent deserves and if he plays like he did last night he will get plenty of games here."
Source: PA
