Stoke City 0 - 1 Derby County

Stoke v Derby: Preview

Updated: December 1, 2008, 5:21 PM UK

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is expected to all-but abandon his squad rotation policy for the Carling Cup quarter-final against Derby as a Wembley date comes closer for the Potteries side.

Pulis made wholesale changes for the two previous rounds against Reading and Rotherham, retaining only two of his first-choice Premier League side for the clash with the Millers.

But the reality of being just three games from Wembley - the last time Stoke were there was when they beat Chelsea in the League Cup final of 1972 - is persuading Pulis to use his top stars against Derby at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday.

He will be without striker Dave Kitson, who is still recovering from a knee injury, while midfielder Michael Tonge is cup-tied.

Pulis may well include second-choice goalkeeper Steve Simonsen in place of Thomas Sorensen, while Irish midfielder Glenn Whelan could figure.

Stoke have won five of their last six home games, and will be favourites to reach the last four despite Derby's resurgent form this term under Paul Jewell, having been relegated from the top flight last season.

Pulis said: "We are desperate to win this one, and get to the semi-finals.

"It would be a fantastic achievement. We will be going for the win and my side will reflect that.''

He added: "This is a massive game for this club, and a game we will be desperately trying to win in front of our own supporters.

"When they are at their best they can make a major impact on results for us, and I hope they are in good voice this time.

"This is a rare opportunity for this club to reach the semi-finals of a major competition, and we are determined to take it.

"We all know that Derby have been through the mill as a club in the last year or so, but the fact remains that Paul Jewell was a good manager and he is still a good manager.

"For me he is clearly the man to bring the good times back to the club. And they will look at this match and believe they can win it, so we have to be on top of our game from the start.''

Jewell remains without three key central defenders in Dean Leacock (groin), Martin Albrechtsen (calf) and Claude Davis (hamstring).

Two on-loan players in Charlton striker Luke Varney and Arsenal midfielder Nacer Barazite are cup-tied and unavailable.

But a third in West Ham defender James Tompkins, who joined last week, is in the squad.

Jewell has described Pulis as loud and argumentative - although he still has the utmost respect for the Stoke boss.

"I know Tony well,'' said Jewell.

"He never stops talking, has the loudest voice in the world and is the most argumentative person I've ever come across, and I thought I was argumentative until I met him.

"But he is a character, full of enthusiasm and he's done a terrific job at Stoke after serving his apprenticeship at places like Gillingham and Bournemouth.

"As he is now in his second spell at Stoke, he has put to bed the theory you should never go back.

"I think many people have underestimated the job he has done at Stoke, but I haven't, and I don't think other people in the game have either.''

Ahead of the game Jewell has warned his players not to fall into the trap that has snared some big names so far this season.

Although long-throw specialist Rory Delap has attracted headlines, Jewell believes they have another "secret weapon.''

"They can play,'' insisted Jewell.

"There's a misconception in football that Stoke are only physical, and when you get tagged with something in the media it stays with you.

"Tony will be saying to his players that people think they are a bunch of hammer-throwers, when they know they're not.

"But then it will suit him for people to say how horrible his side are to play against.

"A lot of people are frightened and beaten before they get there, with a lot of his players underestimated as individuals. They are far from one-dimensional.

"So you underestimate Stoke as a footballing team at your peril. They have far more about them than people give them credit for.''