Preston North End host Stoke City in a mid-table Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would lift Preston above Stoke and up to 12th in the table, although they can go 11th on goal difference from Swansea if win by a four-goal margin or higher.
Stoke meanwhile can go 10th with a win ahead of Saturday’s action.
Team News
Lewis Gibson is unlikely to feature for Preston despite his return to training following his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Milutin Osmajic (hamstring) could return but Ali McCann (knock) and Callum Lang (hamstring) remain ruled out.
Stoke could welcome Bosun Lawal (hamstring) and Divin Mubama (ankle) back into contention, subject to late fitness checks.
Gavin Bazunu (thigh), Viktor Johansson, Robert Bozenik (both shoulder), Aaron Cresswell (muscle), Ben Wilmot (calf), Lewis Baker (ankle) and Ato Ampah (toe) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Preston host Stoke at Deepdale on Friday 20 March at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Preston have lost just one of their last six meetings against Stoke (W2, D3, L1).
- Stoke are unbeaten in their last five visits to Preston (W3, D2).
- Two of Preston’s last three meetings against Stoke have ended in goalless draws, albeit away from home whilst they drew 1-1 at Deepdale in the other clash across those three fixtures.
- Preston have scored just one goal and conceded 10 goals in their last four matches (L4).
- Stoke are winless in their last five away matches (D2, L3).
Prediction
Despite taking just six points in their last 12 marches, Preston are surely going to be safe but they do need to stop their seven-match winless streak and rediscover their goalscoring touch if want to start building some momentum to take into next season.
Stoke likewise are in a similar position of just preparing for next season after injuries derailed their promotion bid, so this is a chance for them to work on their defensive play given their lack of clean sheets since January, but they can take confidence from their win over Watford and away form in this fixture.
I however do think that with little now riding on this game for both teams, we could see both teams go for it but I do think that Stoke will have the edge in firepower.
Prediction: Preston 1-2 Stoke
Result: Preston 3-1 Stoke
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