When Southampton and Stoke City met earlier in the season, Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic scored from his own area within 13 seconds of the kickoff.

After one of the most bizarre starts to a game in Premier League history, the Saints came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a very blustery Staffordshire.

Only two clubs have tasted top-flight victories at the Britannia Stadium this season, but Southampton are beginning to rediscover the form that took the division by storm at the start of the campaign.

A convincing 3-0 win at Fulham last weekend marked a sixth game without defeat for Mauricio Pochettino's side, a run during which they have found the net 15 times through eight different goalscorers.

However, Stoke will also be full of confidence following their Charlie Adam-inspired 2-1 success over Manchester United last Saturday, a result which ended a four-match losing run in all competitions.

Marko Arnautovic and Jonathan Walters are expected to shake off injuries to maintain their places in the Stoke starting XI, but Oussama Assaidi is on standby should either of them fail to recover from knocks.

Steven N'Zonzi is back from suspension and may replace Glenn Whelan in the centre of midfield.

Robert Huth, Andy Wilkinson and Matthew Etherington will definitely miss out, though, while January signings Stephen Ireland and John Guidetti will both likely have to make do with places on the bench.

Southampton's Victor Wanyama eased his way back to fitness with 45 minutes against Fulham and he again could start at St Mary's Stadium despite Jack Cork impressing in his two-month absence.

Another Saint in form is Adam Lallana, who has scored four goals in his last five games. Pochettino does not have the option of playing Gaston Ramirez alongside his skipper in midfield, with the Uruguayan, and centre-back Dejan Lovren, both sidelined with ankle ligament problems.

Nathaniel Clyne may be restored at right-back if Calum Chambers fails a fitness test on his thigh strain.

Recent form

Southampton: WDWDWW

Stoke: WLLLLW

Possible starting lineups

Southampton: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis; Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters; Arnautovic, Adam, N'Zonzi, Walters; Odemwingie, Crouch

Sports Mole says: 2-0