Lawrence could return for Chelsea test

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is hopeful that Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam Lawrence will have recovered from his groin injury in time to face Premier League champions Chelsea tomorrow.

Striker Kenwyne Jones could also return to action after missing last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham with an ankle injury.

Jones, who sustained the problem on the opening day of the season at Wolves, has what Pulis describes as an “outside chance” of featuring at Stamford Bridge.

Mamady Sidibe is a long-term absentee having ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Team (from): Begovic, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Lawrence, Jones, Fuller, Tuncay, Soares, Pugh, Faye, Collins, Wilkinson, Sorensen, Walters.