Stoke chairman Peter Coates has called Saturday's promotion showdown with Bristol City as the biggest game ever played at the Britannia.City could go back to the top of the table and take another huge step towards promotion with a victory - the closest the Potters have been to the top flight since leaving the Victoria Ground 11 years ago.

"There are the horror stories of being relegated, but I would say this would be our biggest occasion since we were in the play-offs for promotion under Lou Macari against Leicester (in 1996). That would be the nearest equivalent," Coates told the Sentinel.

Striker Shola Ameobi could be fit to face the Robins as the hamstring injury he suffered at Coventry last week is not as bad as first feared.

But skipper Andy Griffin has sustained a torn hamstring and may struggle to figure again this season.

More Football News from TEAMtalk