Preston are five points clear of the relegation zone and they are also six points adrift of the playoffs.
The Lilywhites recovered well after losing their opening three games of the season to now be unbeaten in their last six Championship fixtures.
However, only two of those six matches have resulted in victories and they enter Tuesday’s encounter fresh off the back of four consecutive draws, with the most recent of those coming at the weekend as they played out a 0-0 draw with Birmingham City.
Frankie McAvoy’s side have been in excellent form at home, picking up seven of their 10 points this season at Deepdale and Preston have only suffered one defeat at home this term, which came on the opening day against Hull City.
Since the Hull defeat, the Lilywhites have won twice and drawn once at home, scoring five times in that period and only conceding on two occasions, so McAvoy will be confident his side can get something against a Stoke side full of quality.
Stoke have started the season in an impressive fashion and as a result they sit in fifth position, while they are also just four points off Bournemouth, who are top of the league.
The Potters flew out of the traps by winning three of their first four league games of the season before they suffered their first defeat of the campaign, losing to Fulham at the end of August.
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Michael O’Neill will be content with his side’s progress since the Fulham defeat, as his team have only suffered one loss in their last four games, but the Stoke boss will be aware that their away form still needs to improve if they are to maintain a playoff place.
Their only win on the road was a 3-1 victory over Swansea City, but since then they have lost their last two away games, with the most recent of those being a 2-1 defeat to Derby County.
Stoke can take confidence from their last trip to Deepdale when they won 1-0 in the league last season and they will be aiming to replicate that result on Tuesday
