James McClean is looking to test Tom Edwards on his home debut but the Stoke defender is equal to him, muscling him off the ball and ensuring McClean can't whip a ball into the box.

West Brom have themselves a corner though...

...but it doesn't cause any problems. Well, this has been a little flat so far.

Stoke have looked the brighter team so far but in the last few minutes West Brom have managed to get themselves on the ball and are now enjoying possession in their opponents' half.

Salomon Rondon plays another searching ball into the box but Ryan Shawcross is there for Stoke.

No real chances yet.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke get a breakaway on the counter-attack but West Brom are back quickly to snuff out any danger.

They win the ball back and earn themselves a corner - the first of the game.

This is a bright start from Stoke.

Shaqiri lays it off to Darren Fletcher but his strike is comfortably swept up by Ben Foster. Positive signs though.

Image source, Getty Images

Nice ball in from Tom Edwards - making his home debut today. He's looking for Crouch but it's well defended by West Brom.

Shaqiri gives the ball away very cheaply as Stoke look to set up an attack and now the ball is back at the other end.

He needs to perform well today as Stoke are really struggling. He's seen a lot of the ball so far.

Peter Crouch wins a header in the West Brom box and it almost fell for Joe Allen. That's what Stoke will look to do all afternoon.

West Brom got the ball back down the other end shortly afterwards but Rondon's shot was a tame one and it rolled into the hands of Jack Butland.

Interesting to see Stoke line up with a back three today. It's a strong one too with Zouma, Wimmer and Shawcross.

Alan Pardew has set his team up in a more traditional fashion - a good old 4-4-2.

Image source, Opta

Get your drinks in from the bar, hide the remote if you're at home and send the kids away to the other room...

We're underway at the Bet365 and it's set up to be a thriller.

Image source, Reuters

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on Football Focus

West Brom are desperate for points.

If Jonny Evans is allowed to leave in the transfer window then that's very bad news. He could be a top six player in January.

Both clubs are in really, really troubling times.

Image source, Reuters

The players are coming out onto the pitch now.

Not long to go!

Image source, Football Focus

This week, Lawro takes on singer-songwriter Craig David in his match predictions.

David, who is a Southampton fan, reckons there will be a few goals but the points will be shared.

Lawro thinks both of these sides are "pretty desperate for a win" but he's going for another draw.

I'm going to buck the trend and predict a win for West Brom. They can't go another game without one surely? But who knows...

Lawro's prediction: 1-1Craig David's prediction: 2-2

Image source, BBC Sport

We all love stats...

• This will be 100th top-flight match between Stoke and West Brom.

• West Brom have only lost one of their last seven visits to the Britannia Stadium.

• Stoke have 16 points after 18 matches, their lowest tally at this stage of a Premier League season.

• Peter Crouch is one goal shy of becoming Stoke's outright all-time leading Premier League scorer. (He is currently level with Jonathan Walters on 43 goals.)

• West Brom are enduring a club record 17-match winless run in all competitions.

• West Brom's only victory in 18 away league matches in 2017 was 1-0 at Burnley in August.

Mark Scott
Match of the Day commentator

There's not just plenty riding on this game for Stoke and West Brom - some reckon Mark Hughes' job could be on the line too, although Hughes himself is confident he'll still be in charge even if the Potters suffer back-to-back home defeats against their fellow strugglers.

The Baggies' decision to make a managerial switch hasn't yet resulted in the 'new boss bounce' they'd have been hoping for, with Alan Pardew picking up two points from his first four games in charge, but there have been encouraging signs since his arrival.

It's a match neither can really afford to lose and one both will fully believe they can win, so while it's a scrap between teams towards the bottom, it should be an absorbing afternoon.

Image source, BBC Sport

West Brom captain Jonny Evans could leave next month after the club failed to persuade the Northern Ireland defender to sign a new contract.

Evans has 18 months on his deal and it is understood he has no intention of extending his stay at the Hawthorns.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester all expressed interest in the former Manchester United man in the summer.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke boss Mark Hughes denied he will be sacked if his side fail to beat West Brom today.

Do you agree? Send me your thoughts on Hughes' future using the hashtag #bbcfootball

The Stoke City manager says he believes he's in a stronger position with the club because the owner Peter Coates is heavily involved on a day-to-day basis.

Mark Hughes is under pressure as the Potters are 16th in the Premier League with just one win in eight games.

Hughes goes into today's match odds-on favourite to be the next top flight manager to leave his post.

Image source, Getty Images

So, Kurt Zouma starts for Stoke in what looks to be a 3-4-1-2 formation.

How important is he to that back four/three?

Stoke have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 Premier League games...

Image source, Getty Images

It's all very tight at the bottom. A loss for Stoke could see them drop into the relegation zone. A win for West Brom will see them climb out of the relegation zone, as Newcastle take on West Ham.

There's just two points separating the two sides and neither team are in form. We're in for an interesting afternoon...

Image source, BBC Sport

Kurt Zouma, who was a doubt to play today due to a hamstring problem, has made the starting XI for Stoke, as has Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

There's also a home debut for Tom Edwards.

Mark Hughes makes three changes to the side which were beaten 3-0 by West Ham last Saturday.

Stoke XI: Butland, Wimmer, Zouma, Allen, Choupo-Moting, Shawcross (C), Cameron, Shaqiri, Fletcher, Crouch, Edwards

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Brunt is back in the starting XI and skipper Jonny Evans remains despite on-going speculation over a potential transfer switch in January.

Nacer Chadli and Matt Phillips return to the squad following injuries.

Alan Pardew also makes three changes from the side which were defeated 2-1 by Manchester United.

West Brom XI: Foster, Nyom, Gibbs, Robson-Kanu, Evans (C), Livermore, Rondon, Brunt, McClean, Barry, Hegazi

Image source, BBC Sport