Preview: Stoke City vs. Queens Park Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers square off on Saturday afternoon looking for the victory which would help them secure a top-half finish in the Championship standings.

The visitors hold a five-point advantage over their next opponents, who remain at risk of dropping down to 15th spot before the end of the campaign.

Match preview

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Such has been Stoke's demise during the second half of the campaign that few supporters would have had complaints with a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Nevertheless, it extend the club's winless streak to five matches with just 22 points coming from as many fixtures since the turn of the year.

The likelihood is that Michael O'Neill will be given an opportunity to shake-up his squad during the summer, potentially generating funds in the transfer market with a couple of big-money sales.

However, the former Northern Ireland boss needs at least one win from a closing double-header with QPR and Bournemouth if he is to convince supporters that he remains the right man for the job.

The Potters have failed to win any of their last three fixtures at the bet365 Stadium, collecting just one point from meetings with Millwall, Preston North End and Coventry.

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In sharp contrast to their hosts, QPR are a club which seem very much on an upward trajectory after recording 22 points from their last 12 matches.

Last weekend's defeat to likely champions Norwich City halted their momentum, but Mark Warburton will be delighted with how his players are ending the campaign.

Sitting just two points adrift of eighth-placed Cardiff City, Warburton will have his sights set on moving ahead of the Bluebirds, particularly with a home meeting versus Luton Town to follow the trip to the Potteries.

Aided by six goals and two assists from striker Lyndon Dykes, QPR have scored in their last nine fixtures in the Championship.

Team News

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O'Neill will give consideration to naming the same Stoke XI which earned a point at the City Ground last weekend.

Jacob Brown is an alternative to Steven Fletcher in attack, but Nick Powell may only be selected among the replacements if he passes a late fitness test.

The likes of James Chester, Morgan Fox and Joe Allen all remain out of contention for the Potters.

Charlie Austin should return to the QPR starting lineup with either Chris Willock or Ilias Chair dropping to the substitutes' bench.

Sam Field is also expected to get the nod ahead of George Thomas in midfield.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Davies; Smith, Souttar, Batth, Norrington-Davies; Thompson, Mikel; Matondo, Clucas, Tymon; Fletcher

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, De Wijs, Barbet; Kakay, Johansen, Field, Wallace; Chair; Austin, Dykes

We say: Stoke City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers

With his job potentially under threat, O'Neill will demand a strong performance from his Stoke side this weekend. Nevertheless, QPR look a team on the up under Warburton, and we are backing the visitors to show a greater cutting edge in the final third.