Tony Pulis is determined his Stoke side must be on the front foot against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Potters face a United side boosted by the news that star striker Wayne Rooney has agreed a new five-year contract, but Pulis has urged his side to be positive rather than simply trying to avoid defeat.
"We recognise who we are playing - one of the great teams in this country," Pulis said. "We will have to play to our maximum to get anything out of the game, but we won't be talking about anything else apart from what we can do. That is the way we always approach it at the Britannia."
He added: "We are not playing away, we are playing at home and we have to try and dictate the game.
"We know Manchester United will have a lot of possession of the ball - it is just making sure that when we get it we can affect the game."
Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller will undergo a late fitness test to see if he can play any part in Sunday's match.
Fuller has had problems with a recurring shoulder injury and was rushed to hospital during the 2-1 defeat at Bolton last weekend following an awkward fall.
Aside from long-term absentee Mamady Sidibe, Pulis has no other injury concerns, but may give a chance to goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after Thomas Sorensen made an error at the Reebok Stadium in the build-up to the hosts' late winner.
The defeat at Bolton last time out ended a run of three straight wins for Stoke, who started the weekend in ninth place, four points behind United in fourth.
Source: PA
