Defeat at Sunderland made it four on the bounce in the Premier League, leaving Pulis' side balanced precariously above the drop zone, where the Potters could fall into if they are beaten by a wide margin on Tuesday night.But the dismal run of results does not necessarily reflect a side playing poorly. Loss at the Stadium of Light aside, Stoke have looked solid in defeat to Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United and Everton, and have seen some dubious officiating count against them in recent weeks.
The home side's last win at the Britannia was at the beginning of October when, on an Autumnal afternoon, Walters' first Premier League goal capped off a confident team display against Blackburn Rovers.
However, that result stands out for its uniqueness as it was Stoke's one and only clean sheet of the campaign thus far and the single time that the unusually porous Potters have not conceded the first goal in a game this season.
History Repeating Itself?
Blues head north on the back of a poor run of form themselves, having won just once in their last nine Premier League games – a sequence of results that sees McLeish's side just two points above their rivals on Tuesday night.Despite not picking up a win on the road this season, Birmingham have scored six times on their travels – the exact same number of goals that the Potters have conceded at the Britannia.
And Birmingham can point to history as a precursor to success on Tuesday: last season the visitors picked up a late Christmas present in the Potteries and it is at Stoke where Blues registered their record away win in the league, by seven clear goals, in 1997.
TEAM NEWS
Stoke City
Potters boss Tony Pulis will have to reshuffle his back four following the sending off of club captain Ryan Shawcross in Saturday's defeat at Sunderland. The dependable centre-back will likely be replaced in the middle by Robert Huth, with Andy Wilkinson slotting in at right-back in place of the versatile German.
Stoke should line up in a familiar pattern in midfield, with Pulis seemingly set on a balanced pack that sees two out-and-out wingers – Jermaine Pennant on the right, and Matthew Etherington on the left – defying the conventional wisdom that the Welsh manager is inherently cautious and prone to simply allowing his side to bypass the middle of the park.
Up top, it should be another familiar pattern with Jonathan Walters tucking in behind club record signing Kenwyne Jones, but don't be surprised if Turkish attacker Tuncay Sanli figures to provide more incision than the hard-working Irishman.
Possible starting XI: Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Faye, Collins; Pennant, Whitehead, Wilson, Etherington; Walters; Jones.
Birmingham City
Blues head to the Potteries after coming from behind to snatch a draw against West Ham United, but it was not until manager Alex McLeish hauled off the disappointing Alexander Hleb for top scorer Craig Gardner that Birmingham started to cause problems.
The Belarusian has been in erratic form since making the move to the Midlands and a trip to Stoke would hardly seem the sort of fixture in which the former Arsenal and Barcelona man would start.
McLeish is likely to adopt a more direct approach after admitting to reporters at St Andrew's on Saturday that his side lack the creativity to play a patient, probing game.
Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Beausejour; Jerome, Zigic.
Prediction
Both sides head into battle at the Britannia Stadium low on form and with more than a point to prove, so a tough, physical clash should be on the cards. The two Midlands side are at their most potent when playing a direct game, and this ought to be the case on Tuesday, when the duel is likely to be won or lost by the effectiveness of the two teams' giant target men and the ability of both sets of defenders to deal with the long ball. Expect blood and thunder, if not many clear goalscoring opportunities, and for the away side to finally put an end to their abject form on their travels.
Stoke 0-1 Birmingham 
