Preview: Stoke City vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Foxes currently hold a 10-point advantage in first place, Stoke are down in 19th position and at risk of being pulled into a relegation scrap.

Match preview

There have been times recently when Leicester have not always looked like a side that could canter to promotion, conceding late goals to collect just one point from a double-header with Coventry City and Ipswich Town.

However, Enzo Maresca's team have since responded with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City in the FA Cup fourth round and a 3-1 success over Swansea City in the league.

Maresca would have been disappointed not to keep successive clean sheets for the first time since October courtesy of conceding a late consolation to the Welsh outfit.

That said, recording three points was most important, the East Midlands outfit able to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points with 17 matches remaining.

Leicester must now try to negotiate away trips to Stoke and Watford, yet this is a team that have won 10 of their 14 matches on their travels since returning to the second tier.

As far as Stoke are concerned, Steven Schumacher is beginning to realise the enormity of his task in trying to move the Staffordshire outfit away from the bottom three.

Just two wins have been posted in his opening eight games, while his three defeats have come in Stoke's last four outings in all competitions.

Birmingham City prevailed 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium on January 20 before the Potters were comprehensively defeated by an inconsistent Sunderland side last weekend.

Sitting 12 points adrift of the top six, a late playoff push feels almost out of the question, Schumacher instead needing to ensure that the seven-point advantage above the relegation zone is not reduced.

Stoke City Championship form:

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Stoke City form (all competitions):

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Leicester City Championship form:

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Leicester City form (all competitions):

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Team News

Schumacher is expected to make several Stoke changes on the back of the defeat at the Stadium of Light, with Andre Vidigal and Ryan Mmaee both in contention in the final third.

Lewis Baker may also feature in central midfield, while Ki-Jana Hoever could be considered for a return at right-back.

However, Junior Tchamadeu is also back in contention for that spot after Cameroon's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Leicester have Abdul Fatawu available again after the winger served a three-match ban.

Nevertheless, he may only be selected among the replacements with Yunus Akgun most likely come into the final third on the back of scoring in successive games.

Dennis Praet should retain his spot in a creative role if a transfer does not materialised ahead of this fixture.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Iversen; Gooch, Wilmot, Rose, Thompson; Cundle, Burger, Baker; Vidigal, Mmaee, Haksabanovic

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Akgun, Praet, Mavididi; Daka

We say: Stoke City 1-2 Leicester City

While Stoke have been poor at home this season, they are usually competitive against the bigger sides. Nevertheless, we cannot back against Leicester, and expect the visitors to see out the win after taking control during the first half.

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