Neil Warnock has hailed Ricardo Fuller as "head and shoulders" above any other Championship striker ahead of Crystal Palace's trip to Stoke.Stoke can return to the top of the table with a win over the Eagles at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night and Warnock is well aware of the threat they - in particular Fuller - will pose his side.

"Stoke have spent millions and in Ricardo Fuller they've had the best striker in the division all season. He is head and shoulders above everybody else," Warnock told the club's official website.

"But it's a game we have to look forward to. Nobody gives us a chance in any of the remaining away games and we like that. There's a lot of pressure on the top teams to win every game and we're quietly confident we can give them a game - as we have everybody."

Palace were beaten 3-1 by Stoke in Warnock's first home game in charge earlier this season but the former Sheffield United boss does not believe the return match will be so comfortable for the Potters.

"When we played them in the first home game in charge we couldn't cope with them physically - they battered us," he said.

"But I like to think we've improved a lot since that early game.

"We will be going out to beat Stoke on their own patch and cause another upset like we did at Bristol City."

One of Warnock's first pieces of business after taking over at Selhurst Park was to sign Clint Hill from Stoke - with Leon Cort going the other way - and Warnock is sure the defender will declare himself fit to face his former club.

"Clint will definitely play," he said. "If needs be he will play on crutches against Stoke.

"It's not a case of if I pick Clint as he's the first name on the teamsheet. It's the 10 around him I have to pick."

Meanwhile Cort believes Monday's clash will be one of Stoke's toughest remaining games as they vie for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

"They can hurt anyone. He's got them going out there full of confidence and playing without fear," said Cort.

"It's going to be one of the toughest games we've got left.

"I know what they are like. They are very physical and they are going to put it on us. Striker Clinton Morrison is one I know well.

"He can be quiet for 89 minutes, but then pop up with a goal. He's always been a good finisher."

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