We get you set for Southampton's trip to Stoke City, in the Premier League, with our comprehensive match preview.
What’s at stake?
Saints are chasing their first back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season and they are looking for a first success on the road in the league since a 3-0 win at West Ham during September.
Last Sunday’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Premier League sees Claude Puel’s men in tenth place going into the midweek action, with two games played on Tuesday.
Stoke go into the game one point and one place worse off than Southampton following a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal over the weekend.
They have won three of their seven home league games so far, including a 2-0 success over Burnley last time out at the Bet365 Stadium.
Team news
Southampton: Claude Puel has confirmed that striker Charlie Austin has been ruled out for a spell of three to four months with the shoulder injury he sustained in the Europa League clash against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
With a trip to Bournemouth also to come this week, Puel could rotate his squad again after making eight changes between the Be’er Sheva defeat and the win over Middlesbrough.
Defenders Matt Targett and Jérémy Pied remain out with long term injuries.
Stoke: Mark Hughes says his side has problems in defence with Geoff Cameron and Phil Bardsley sidelined. The game comes too soon for Ibrahim Afellay, while goalkeeper Jack Butland remains out.
Added to that, there are concerns over the fitness of Marc Muniesa, Glen Johnsont Ryan Shawcross and Jonathan Walters.
Form guide
Southampton’s last five:
Middlesbrough (h) W 1-0
Hapoel Be’er Sheva (h) D 1-1 (UEFA Europa League)
Crystal Palace (a) L 0-3
Arsenal (a) W 2-0 (EFL Cup)
Everton (h) W 1-0
Stoke’s last five:
Arsenal (a) L 1-3
Burnley (h) W 2-0
Watford (a) W 1-0
AFC Bournemouth (h) L 0-1
West Ham (a) D 1-1
Top performers
Fraser Forster has kept a clean sheet in 40% of his Premier League appearances (25 in 63).
Of goalkeepers to have played 50+ Premier League games, Forster has the joint-second best goals conceded per game average (0.84 per game). Jens Lehmann is level with the Englishman, while only Petr Cech (0.75 per game) has a better ratio.
Top scorers: Charlie Austin (9), Nathan Redmond (3)
Most assists: James Ward-Prowse (2)
The Potters have only failed to find the net in one of their last 11 Premier League matches, and the goals have been spread around the team too.
Midfielder Joe Allen currently leads the way with both goals and assists, but Wilfied Bony, Bojan and Jonathan Walters are also off the mark in the league.
Top scorers: Joe Allen (4), Peter Crouch (3), Xherdan Shaqiri [3]
Most assists: Joe Allen, Marko Arnautović (2)
Previous meetings
All-time record:
Played: 70
Southampton: 30
Draws: 13
Stoke: 27
Last four meetings:
March 2016: Stoke City 1-2 Southampton (Pellè 2)
November 2015: Southampton 0-1 Stoke City
April 2015: Stoke City 2-1 Southampton (Schneiderlin)
October 2014: Stoke City 2-3 Southampton (Pellè 2, Long)
Did you know?
Wednesday’s game will be Stoke boss Mark Hughes’s 400th as a Premier League manager.
Southampton have scored in each of their last 13 league visits to Stoke, last failing to score there in a league game in August 1977.
Not at the game?
Don’t worry if you’re not at the game on Wednesday, as we’ll be keeping you right up to date.
Our Matchday Live centre on southamptonfc.com will feature build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, as well as live updates from the game and FREE audio commentary.
Additionally, our social media channels will also be offering exclusive, behind-the-scenes access, as well as updates from the match.
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