Stoke will begin life without Bojan Krkic when they host Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Spanish playmaker has been ruled out for at least six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Rochdale.

The former Barcelona starlet had started to show his potential in England with a series of eye-catching performances and a return of four goals in eight games.

Former QPR manager Mark Hughes will have to make do without his star man for the remainder of the season, but may have Mame Biram Diouf available again after Senegal's early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Should Diouf return to English soil in time, he is likely to be on the bench for the visit of the Hoops, with Peter Crouch, who penned a new two-year contract with the Potters this week, selected to spearhead the attack.

The 32-year-old striker has been signed three times by Harry Redknapp during his career and the Rangers boss was believed to be keen on making it four before Crouch committed himself to the Britannia Stadium.

Midfield stalwart Glenn Whelan, who has made 248 appearances for Stoke since joining from Sheffield Wednesday in 2008, has also extended his stay with the club and will resume his partnership with Steven N'Zonzi this weekend.

Redknapp already has a reliable marksman in his ranks in the shape of 13-goal Charlie Austin, although the experienced manager needs to find a way of better utilising the poacher's qualities during away fixtures.

Rangers are still yet to pick up a point on their travels this term and therefore Redknapp could hand West Ham United loanee Mauro Zarate a first start for the club in the search for a winning formula on the road.

Elsewhere, the visitors should name a similar team to the one which was beaten 2-0 by Manchester United, although Steven Caulker is likely to be recalled at the expense of Nedum Onuoha, or injury doubt Richard Dunne.

Sandro and Yun Suk-young are unlikely to be passed fit and therefore Karl Henry and Clint Hill should keep their places. Midfielder Jordon Mutch is unavailable after sealing his £4.75m move to Crystal Palace.

Asmir Begovic and Marc Muniesa should return at the expense of Jack Butland and Marc Wilson after being rested for cup duty last weekend, but Peter Odemwingie and Erik Pieters remain sidelined for the hosts.

Finding a creative source to replace Bojan could be Hughes's biggest dilemma, although Marko Arnautovic is capable of playing a central role and may be shifted inside to accommodate Jon Walters and Victor Moses on the wings.

Victory may lift QPR out of the relegation zone, while Stoke could climb one place to ninth with three points.

Stoke:

Form in Premier League: LWWDLW
Form in all competitions: WDWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Muniesa; N'Zonzi, Whelan; Moses, Arnautovic, Walters; Crouch

QPR:

Form in Premier League: WLDDLL
Form in all competitions: LDDLLL

Possible starting lineup: Green; Isla, Caulker, Dunne, Hill; Vargas, Barton, Henry, Fer; Zarate; Austin

Sports Mole says: 2-0