The Potters host Rovers in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off having been defeated in their previous four Barclays Premier League games, and last three in all competitions at the Britannia Stadium. Those stats make for disappointing reading, particularly given that the Staffordshire outfit made such an encouraging start to the season, being beaten only twice in their opening 16 fixtures.
Stoke have been quite the success story in recent years, winning promotion to the top flight in 2008, finishing comfortably in mid-table in each campaign since and reaching last season's FA Cup final, which saw them qualify for this term's Europa League.
All of that has been achieved under the management of Pulis, who today emphasised that it has not been plain sailing for the entire journey. The Welshman has encountered tricky spells with the Potters before and is not about to get carried away about this one.
"There have been occasions in the Premier League where we have had bad patches and bad runs," Pulis said. "It has happened before, and I think the biggest thing in management is just making sure you approach things in the same manner.
"I'm no different to what I was when we got to Wembley last year. "You look at what we have done this year - we have played eight games in Europe and we are unbeaten. If we had won on Saturday (they lost 3-2 at home to QPR) we would have been in the top 10 of the Premier League.
"You have to make sure you stay level-headed and get on with it. "It's strange really - people keep saying this is a big game, or that is a big game. "They are all big games, and if we win, brilliant. If we lose, it's still not the end of the world - and people try to make out that it is the end of the world." Nonetheless, having seen the side concede 14 goals in four league games, Pulis is looking for a solid display at the back against Blackburn.
"We need to sort things out - we need to get some clean sheets," Pulis said. "We need to work together as a team - it's not just the back four, it's everybody together. "I think in the games that we've played at home, we've looked as if we are potent enough to score goals, but when you score two goals at home (as against QPR), you expect to win a game of football, not lose it."
Pulis has confirmed that Thomas Sorensen will keep his place in goal after coming into the starting line-up last weekend as a replacement for Asmir Begovic, who was at fault for two of the goals in the 5-0 loss at Bolton on November 6. Striker Peter Crouch (groin) is an injury doubt, along with midfield pair Matthew Etherington and Rory Delap (both back problems), will undergo a late fitness test.
Blackburn manager Steve Kean says his new contract signed this week is a sign of the backing he enjoys from the club's owners. Kean signed a new deal which does not extend the length of his contract but includes a pay rise - much to the anger of the section of the club's fans who have been holding protests at matches calling for him to be sacked.
Asked if he could understand why, with Blackburn second-from-bottom of the table, some supporters might think he was fortunate to be rewarded, Kean said: "No, the length of the contract is the same. I'm just delighted the owners have backed me and the players are totally behind what we are trying to do. "I'm happy now to move on and piece together what we are trying to do."
With his own contract sorted, Kean is now trying to persuade in-demand winger Junior Hoilett to sign a new deal. The 21-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has attracted interest from Arsenal and Tottenham but Kean said the Canada international is "desperate" to sign a new deal with Rovers.
"What we have to do as a club is make him a good contract offer and I think we have done that," Kean added. "His parents and his representatives are speaking with the directors on a daily basis so hopefully they can push it over the line. "The boy is desperate to sign and I went to Canada to speak to his father and mother myself."
Chris Samba and Martin Olsson are likely to miss out, Ryan Nelsen is back in training but not match-fit while David Dunn is suspended. Jason Lowe is back from his ban, Michel Salgado is expected to have shaken off a knock picked up last weekend while keeper Paul Robinson is available despite receiving a gashed head against Wigan.
Stoke V Blackburn - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: DSG
