Two of the early pacesetters in the Championship go head to head on Saturday as Stoke City host Huddersfield Town.

After the opening five matches, the two sides sit fifth and fourth respectively on 10 points each, having both won three, drawn one and lost one.

Match preview

Stoke suffered their first defeat of the season last time out, as they were outclassed 3-0 by league leaders Fulham away from home.

Not many teams will get something from a trip to Craven Cottage this season, but the Potters have shown enough in their other matches to suggest they may finally be ready to mount a promotion push for the first time since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

Ten points from five games is their best return in the opening month of a campaign since they came down, while they have won both of their home games so far against Reading and Nottingham Forest.

The deadline-day arrival of Abdallah Sima, who scored 16 goals for Slavia Prague last season, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion will give Stoke fans further hope that their exile from the top-flight could soon come to an end.

The Potters have only lost one of their last nine matches against Huddersfield, while this fixture last season produced a seven-goal thriller which Michael O'Neill's side won 4-3.

Huddersfield are also enjoying their best start to a campaign since relegation two years ago and thrashed Reading 4-0 a fortnight ago.

Goals from Lewis O'Brien, Matty Pearson, Sorba Thomas and Danny Ward gave the Terriers a third successive win, a feat they had not achieved since their promotion-winning campaign under David Wagner in February 2017; it was also the club's biggest margin of victory in 18 months.

Carlos Corberan is certainly beginning to silence his doubters after the 5-1 defeat to Fulham in the second game of the season sparked criticism of the Spaniard.

After travelling to the Bet365 Stadium, Huddersfield face winless Blackpool and Nottingham Forest in the next week, so will see this as a big opportunity to continue building early season momentum.

Team News

Stoke's deadline day signing Abdallah Sima, who earned his fourth cap for Senegal this week, is in contention to make his debut upfront.

Full-back Demeaco Duhaney, who was released by Huddersfield in the summer, also arrived on deadline day on a short term contract but is unlikely to feature.

Adam Davies tested positive for coronavirus when he arrived in the Wales camp at the start of the international break, but should be available to return; he is yet to feature in the Championship this season with youngster Josef Bursik being selected as first choice goalkeeper.

Corberan could name an unchanged Huddersfield starting lineup following the comprehensive win over Reading two weeks ago.

Sorba Thomas has the joint-most assists in the Championship (four) and also netted his first Terriers goal with an impressive solo effort against the Royals.

Teenager Mipo Odubeko signed on loan from West Ham United on the penultimate day of the transfer window, giving Corberan another option in attack after Jordan Rhodes was ruled out for two months with a back injury.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Ostigard, Souttar, Wilmot; Smith, Clucas, Allen, Vrancic, Tymon; Brown, Sima

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Pearson, Lees, Colwill; Thomas, Hogg, O'Brien, Toffolo; Sinani, Ward, Koroma

We say: Stoke City 2-2 Huddersfield Town

This should be an entertaining game between two sides who have begun the season with plenty of promise. Stoke will be eager to bounce back from defeat while Huddersfield will want to continue building momentum, but we think it will end all square.

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