Shawcross starts ban

Defender Ryan Shawcross is unavailable for the FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea as he starts a three-match suspension.

Shawcross was sent off last weekend for his tackle on Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey which resulted in the young midfielder breaking his leg in two places.

Stoke will await fitness checks on Matthew Etherington (knee) and Danny Higginbotham (back), who have missed three and four matches respectively, before naming their side.

Provisional squad: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Whitehead, Abdoulaye Faye, Huth, Collins, Lawrence, Pugh, Whelan, Diao, Tuncay, Delap, Etherington, Sidibe, Fuller, Kitson, Higginbotham, Simonsen, Beattie, Davies, Amdy Faye.