A reminder that Stoke have made two changes from their draw at Preston last time out, with Joe Allen and James Chester replacing Romaine Sawyers and Leo Ostigard.

West Brom have kept the side that beat Cardiff on Tuesday as they look for three wins in a row.

Stoke XI: Davies, Wilmot, Souttar, Chester, Smith, Allen, Thompson, Tymon, Powell, Vrancic, Brown.

West Brom XI: Johnstone, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Reach, Robinson, Hugill, Grant.

Image source, Rex Features

Can the away side win the fourth consecutive match between these two sides?

Table-topping West Brom are looking to extend their record-breaking unbeaten start to the season to 11 matches.

Stoke are looking for their fifth home win in six.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Bet365 Stadium

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

It's the first of October. It's also the last day of the cricket season.

This morning I was writing the last report of the 2021 county summer. This evening where else would I want to come to watch a football match than Stoke?

They say this is the coldest ground in the country 365 days a year - the Narnia of football, forever cast under a spell by some evil soccer-hating white witch.

But, to be honest, the sun was shining on the way up and really it's just an average comparatively balmy early autumn evening in the Potteries.

As long as it stays balmy and doesn't turn barmy, I'll be quite happy.

For all of Michael O'Neill's heroics as manager of the Northern Ireland team, his Stoke side have often lacked the consistency of an outfit which previously held down a Premier League place for 10 years.

That could change this season, with the likes of Nick Powell helping to keep them at the sharp end of the Championship.

The former Manchester United and Wigan midfielder has five goals in seven games in all competitions, netting in his last three.

Image source, Getty Images

You can send us your thoughts on tonight's game by including #bbcefl in your tweets.

The best ones will feature in our coverage.

Who are Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion's main rivals for automatic promotion this season?

What say could Stoke have in that fight?

Karlan Grant had a whirlwind rise up the EFL ranks, going from playing in League Two for Crawley in May 2018, to being a Premier League starter for Huddersfield Town nine months later.

He only scored once in the top flight for West Brom last season, but is sure to play a key role in their bid for promotion from the Championship.

The 24-year-old has three goals in two games for the Baggies including the opener at Cardiff on Tuesday and the winner against QPR last Friday.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Gurney
BBC Radio WM Sport

A club record-breaking start to a League season of 10 matches unbeaten isn’t bad going for a man trying to impose his methods on a new group of players.

But that is what Valerien Ismael has achieved in his short time at West Brom, although it’s not been all plain sailing.

Some performances have attracted criticism from Baggies’ fans, culminating in booing and cries of “you don’t know what you’re doing” when he substituted Grady Diangana against QPR.

Image source, Getty Images

Clearly bruised by that experience, Ismael cut a rather intense figure during periods of the 4-0 thrashing of Cardiff on Tuesday, but proved in that game, and at times in the win over QPR, that he can change his perceived style, and not just rely on set pieces and long throws.

This evening, though, might be the biggest test to date.

Stoke are boosted by the return of midfielder Joe Allen from a toe injury, while fellow Welsh international James Chester comes into the defence in place of Leo Ostigard.

The Potters are without suspended midfielder Sam Clucas who picked up a fifth yellow card of the season against Preston three days ago, but Steven Fletcher is back on the bench after an ankle issue.

Stoke XI: Davies, Wilmot, Souttar, Chester, Smith, Allen, Thompson, Tymon, Powell, Vrancic, Brown.

West Brom are unchanged and have defender Matt Clarke back as a substitute following a hamstring injury.

Robert Snodgrass, who had a late fitness test, remains out after rolling his ankle in training last month.

West Brom XI: Johnstone, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Reach, Robinson, Hugill, Grant.

Stoke hosted West Brom on the very first day of the Football League in 1888, losing 2-0.

They met most recently in January last year, when an early Tyrese Campbell goal gave the Potters an away win.

Romaine Sawyers has since joined Michael O'Neill's side, but his new team have lost this home fixture without scoring on the last two occasions.

Will the away team succeed again today? The Baggies are hot off a midweek 4-0 win at Cardiff.

Image source, Getty Images

Three points for West Brom tonight would give them the daylight they desire at the top end of the Championship, at least for the night.

Stoke have the chance to climb up to third - and they would have a reasonable chance of staying there - given that Fulham and Coventry can't both win the match between those two sides tomorrow.

Image source, BBC Sport

Ten games in and the Championship has already thrown plenty of drama and excitement at us.

No doubt there are many twists and turns to come, but both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion can be pretty satisfied with how they have started the new term.

Image source, Rex Features

Actually, this is probably about the point where we stop calling it the 'new season' and crack on with a feast of fixtures leading us into the winter months.

Just the one match tonight as Valerien Ismael's table-topping Baggies visit the bet365 Stadium, with tomorrow's programme including a tasty clash between Coventry and Fulham, while Bournemouth host Sheffield United.