Stoke City and Aston Villa will continue their preparations for the 2021-22 campaign with a pre-season clash at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Villa will enter the clash off the back of a 4-0 win over Walsall on Wednesday, while Stoke beat Crewe Alexandra 3-2 in their third friendly of the summer on Tuesday.
Match preview
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Stoke, who finished 14th in the Championship last term, started their preparations for next season with a 1-1 draw against Hibernian on July 9 before recording a 6-0 victory over Linfield on July 17.
The Potters were last in action on Tuesday, recording a 3-2 win over Crewe, with Danny Batth, Steven Fletcher and Nick Powell on the scoresheet for the second-tier side.
Stoke will take on Villa, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their final three friendlies of the summer before opening their 2021-22 Championship season at home to Reading on August 7.
Michael O'Neill's side have sold Nathan Collins this summer, while Kevin Wimmer, Jordan Cousins, Ryan Woods, Moritz Bauer and John Obi Mikel have moved on.
There have been three new arrivals at Stoke in the current window, though, with Ben Wilmot, Mario Vrancic and Jack Bonham boosting their squad ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
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Villa, meanwhile, opened their preparations for the new season with a 4-0 win over Walsall on Wednesday, with Ollie Watkins, Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Aaron Ramsey on the scoresheet.
New signing Emiliano Buendia set up both of Watkins's goals in the pre-season contest, while there was also a start for Ashley Young following his return to the club this summer.
Villa will take on Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Sevilla in their next three friendlies before opening their 2021-22 campaign away to Watford on August 14.
Dean Smith's side will also take on Newcastle United and Brentford in the month of August, and it will be fascinating to see how many more new signings arrive before the transfer window closes.
Villa finished 11th in the Premier League last season but had threatened to push for a European spot, and they could potentially be dark horses for a Europa League finish if Jack Grealish stays at the club.
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Team News
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Stoke boss O'Neill sent a strong XI onto the field against Crewe, and it is likely to be a similar side for this match, with Fletcher potentially being joined by Jacob Brown in the final third of the field.
Powell was on the scoresheet on Tuesday and should be handed another start in midfield, while Joe Allen is also expected to line up in the middle of the park for the Championship outfit.
Wilmot has been Stoke's biggest signing of the transfer window thus far, and the 21-year-old should line up at the back once again on Saturday afternoon.
As for Villa, new signings Young and Buendia should both be in the first XI once again, while Watkins will be hoping to build on his two-goal performance against Walsall.
John McGinn featured in the second half on Wednesday and will again be looking to get minutes in his legs ahead of the start of competitive action next month.
Wesley and Keinan Davis were also among those to feature in the second half against Walsall, and Smith will again make full use of his squad against the Potters this weekend.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Davies; Wilmot, Batth, Fox, Smith; Vrancic, Allen, Powell, Doughty; Brown, Fletcher
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Steer; Cash, Konsa, S.Revan, A.Young; J.Ramsey, Nakamba, Chukwuemeka; El Ghazi, Watkins, Buendia
We say: Stoke City 1-1 Aston Villa
Stoke are ahead of Villa in terms of their preparations for the new season, but it is difficult to back against the Premier League side due to the strength of their squad. Both managers will be looking to build the fitness of their players, and we can see the two teams playing out a low-scoring draw.
Matt Law
