Despite taking 10 points from first 4 group games, Stoke need to take at least one more against Dynamo Kiev or risk missing out on a place in the knockout stages.

The Ukrainians, on the other hand, have got to win at Britannia in order to keep their qualifying hopes alive, but that has proved to be a pretty big task even for much better sides than Dynamo.

Stoke City have come a long way under Tony Pulis, having established themselves as genuine mid table Premier League side, but even their own fans had some doubts before this year’s Europa League campaign.

However, after winning all four qualifying games against Hajduk Split and Thun, the Potters have done brilliantly to get ten points from four games in one of the most difficult groups in the competition.

With Tony Pulis promising that he would field a full strength side against Dynamo, backing Stoke at 2.40 (7/5) offered by Victor Chandler may not be such a bad idea.

Understanding the importance of the match, the gaffer is expected to resist the temptation to rest his key players, meaning that Peter Crouch, Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant should all start.

Asmir Begovic will start between the sticks after losing his Premier League place to Thomas Sorensen, but Ricardo Fuller will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Begovic – Wilkinson, Huth, Upson, Higginbotham – Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Etherington – Crouch, Jones.

Dynamo Kiev were tipped as favourites for the first place in the group, but things haven’t really gone as planned for the Ukrainians.

After sharing spoils with Stoke and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Yuri Semin’s side managed to beat Besiktas at home, but then lost to the same opponent in Turkey.

They are now one point behind the Turks and everything suggest they will need to win this game in order to go through.

That is clearly easier said than done, as witnessed by the odds of 3.30 (23/10) offered by Paddy Power on away win.

The visitors enter the clash in good spirits after winning their last three league games, and with no fresh injuries to report, Yuri Semin is expected to field the same side that started the last league game.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Shovkovskiy – Danilo, Almeida, Yussuf, Betao – Aliyev, Vukojevic, Gusev – Shevchenko, Ideye, Yarmolenko.