The Potters return to league action after a 4-3 extra-time defeat by Swindon in Tuesday night's Capital One Cup, and will face a Wigan outfit buoyed by a convincing won over Nottingham Forest with a second-string side. They will encounter a different-looking Stoke, though, with the Potters having secured the services of Liverpool's Charlie Adam, while they are close to bringing Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu to the club.
Despite that, Martinez knows what to expect and is not worried about any late surprises in Tony Pulis' squad for tomorrow's game. "You're looking at experience and the individuals they've got in the side," Martinez said. "It's very foolish of anyone to think they cannot play. The play in a very specific way that makes them very competitive and they take advantage of their good work and strategy in dead ball situations.
"Overall the experience and what they have achieved over the last few seasons with Tony Pulis is incredible. The success that they had in the Europa League last season - to get into a major cup final and achieve season after season what they've done in the league is an incredible achievement. "We all know, when you play against Stoke you need to be at your best otherwise you have no chance of getting a result.
"Stoke are capable of bringing in good players and they normally do very good business around the deadline, you only have to look back at last summer to see that. "When you are so close to the end of the transfer window, there is always that possibility that a team can bring a player in that you don't expect to be involved in an upcoming game. "I don't think that will necessarily happen though because every player needs time to adapt into a team and at this stage it would probably be a bit too late."
Martinez has no new injury worries ahead of the game but is likely to make several changes from the side which beat Forest 4-1 in the Capital One Cup. Defender Antolin Alcaraz is suspended after he earned a red card in the clash while centre forward Mauro Boselli and winger Ryo Miyaichi could be in line for their first Premier League starts this season. Stoke boss Tony Pulis is optimistic that new recruit Charlie Adam can chip in with a decent share of goals, starting at the DW Stadium. Adam joined the Potters on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Liverpool and is in Pulis' squad.
"It's no secret that we've been looking to bring more goals to the squad and Charlie is a fantastic signing in that respect," the Potters boss said. "Not only will his creativity and his eye for delivering a pass be a great asset to us, he scored 12 goals for Blackpool in the Premier League two seasons ago.
"We are looking for more goals from all areas of the team and his arrival gives us more competition for places in that department."
Wigan V Stoke - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: PA
