With little over 50 hours to go, the build up to a hugely important Premier League clash between Stoke and Portsmouth has begun in earnest.

Both teams have been on terrible runs, Pompey ending a run of 10 league games without a win by beating Manchester City.

Given the flakiness of Mark Hughes’ team, who we overcame surprisingly easily with 10 men, it is hard to know how significant that result is.

A win is a win, but Man City travel about as well as a child on a ferry crossing a stormy English Channel.

Given the closeness of the two teams, with the south coast side three points ahead of the Potters, we can expect a dogfight.

Portsmouth are clearly not the team they were last season, having lost the likes of Sully Muntari, Lassana Diara and – most crucially for us – Jermaine Defoe.

Peter Crouch now has a better supply route in the shape of the other Jermaine, Pennant. But this team has lost almost an entire midfield, its best striker and it is clearly struggling for confidence.

Etherington’s stupidity in getting himself sent off means Stoke don’t have a natural left sided attacking midfielder apart from Danny Pugh, who Pulis does not fancy in that role.

Presumably the hard working but limited Cresswell is going to be asked to fill in there again.

Can’t say I’m chuffed about it but anyone who boos the bloke – as some fans are apparently planning to do - is an idiot.

It is not his fault if he is asked to play out of position and Stoke need to get behind the whole side in this must win match.

If Cressy can just get in Pennant’s way and annoy him, that may help the rest of the side.

Personally I’d rather have a more natural left-sided player but it’s the manager’s call not Cresswell’s.

Liam Lawrence must return to the team is Stoke are to present an attacking threat in open play. Our central midfielders don’t join attacks, so Liam’s going to be crucial.

I hate predicting scores and I’m not going to in this case. Stoke have the players, the firepower and the backing at the Brit to come out winners.

As the mighty Pottermouth would say, ‘let’s do eeeeeeeeet!’