Jermain Defoe’s hamstring tear splits up his prolific relationship with Roman Pavlyuchenko – the pair have scored 14 of Tottenham’s last 17 goals – and offers Peter Crouch a rare Premier League start. This is the kind of awkward fixture that will determine the top-four credentials of Harry Redknapp’s men and, intriguingly, the three sides above them in the table all won at the Britannia Stadium. For those seeking omens, Spurs last triumphed in the Potteries 25 years ago – when they finished third. For mid-table Stoke, Ryan Shawcross’s return from a ban is jeopardised by an ankle niggle. Richard Gibson

Venue Britannia Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £30-40 (0871 663 2007)

Last season Stoke 2 Tottenham 1

Referee M Dean

This season’s matches 21 Y88, R5, 4.43 cards per game

Odds Stoke 11-4 Tottenham 15-13 Draw 12-5

Stoke

Subs from Begovic, Simonsen, Pugh, Collins, Fuller, Sidibe, Lawrence, Davies, Wilkinson, Am Faye, Moult

Doubtful Shawcross (ankle), Whelan (hamstring)

Injured Diao (calf, 27 Mar), Beattie (knee, May)

Suspended None

Form guide DDLWDD

Disciplinary record Y52 R4

Leading scorer Tuncay 4

Tottenham

Subs from Alnwick, Dervite, Kaboul, Rose, K Walker, Gudjohnsen, Bentley, Jenas, Parrett, Fredericks, Townsend, Livermore

Doubtful Bentley (groin), Jenas (groin)

Injured King (knee, 27 Mar), Huddlestone (ankle, 3 Apr), Defoe (hamstring, 17 Apr), Lennon (groin, 25 Apr), Woodgate (groin, Aug), Cudicini (pelvis/wrists, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWLDD

Disciplinary record Y48 R1

Leading scorer Defoe 17

Match pointers

• Stoke have dropped 19 points from winning positions this season, more than any other side

• Tom Huddlestone has had 64 shots and scored once, the worst ratio in the top flight

• Stoke are the most succesful corner takers in the Premier League with 40% of them reaching a team-mate

• Tottenham have been penalised for handball on more occasions (28) than any other side

• 65% of Stoke’s shots have come from inside the penalty area this season, the highest proportion in the division

Premier LeagueStoke CityTottenham Hotspurguardian.co.uk

• Defoe has missed six out of last 10 spot-kicks
• ‘Plenty of other people can take them,’ says Redknapp

Harry Redknapp will tell Jermain Defoe that he does not want him to take any more penalties for Tottenham Hotspur, after the striker’s latest failure from 12 yards against Leeds United in the 2-2 FA Cup fourth-round draw on Saturday.

The England international also missed an injury-time spot-kick at Everton in the Premier League last month which would have given Tottenham victory and, from his last 10 attempts for Spurs and his previous club Portsmouth, he has been successful only four times.

Tottenham’s first-choice taker is Robbie Keane, but he has not been on the field for the club’s two most recent penalties, ­paving the way for Defoe. ­Redknapp also said that Tom Huddlestone or Niko ­Kranjcar could step up if required. Defoe’s penalty woes are a distant worry for ­England, with the World Cup finals in mind.

“I haven’t told Jermain yet but I will have a word with him,” said Redknapp. “He would want to carry on because he loves scoring goals. You know what he’s like. But the one at Everton was in the 90th minute to win the game and it’s a different pressure. When you are 3-0 up, it’s easy. When you miss a couple, obviously it plays on your mind a bit. We’ll see.”

Defoe’s technique from 12 yards has been placed under scrutiny. Many of his goals in open play are the result of his powerful shooting but when he places the ball, as he often does from the spot, he can fluff his lines. “He’s a great goalscorer but his penalties haven’t been so great,” Redknapp said. “When you place them, unless you can be accurate and stick them up there like Jermaine Beckford did for Leeds against us, the keeper often goes the right way. Julian Dicks was a great penalty taker and Ray Stewart at West Ham used to smash them.

“The players practice them, they take a few after training but nothing can replicate what you do in a real game. Plenty of people can take them, like Tom or Niko. We will have to look at it.”

Redknapp revealed that Roman Pavlyuchenko had injured his groin in training morning and was a doubt for the Premier League visit of Fulham tomorrow night while Aaron Lennon remains unavailable because of his groin problem. ­Lennon has not played since the victory over West Ham United on 28 December and he has undergone a scan to get a progress update.

John Bostock has returned to Tottenham, after the League One club Brentford decided not to take up their option to extend his loan. Redknapp was asked whether the 18-year-old midfielder, who arrived at White Hart Lane from Crystal Palace in July 2008 with a big reputation, had kicked on in his development.

“Not at the moment,” Redknapp said. “He’s got terrific ability and you just hope he will do it. He can do it. Maybe I need to get him working and training with the first XI, get him in the squad a bit and see what he can do.”

Tottenham HotspurHarry RedknappDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk