'SELL-OUT CROWD'S MUSIC TO MY EARS'

MARK Robins says the chance to go out and play in front of a near-sold out bet365 Stadium is music to his ears as he looks for a win that will pull Stoke City a long way towards Championship safety.

- Peter Smith

Stoke will take on Sheffield Wednesday (3pm) in front of the biggest home crowd in seven years, with only necessary segregation measures preventing the attendance tipping over 30,000. Fans are being urged to arrive early as the Potters try to build on last week's win at Cardiff, which gave them a five-point buffer to the bottom three with four games remaining.

The form since Stoke returned from the last international break has been crucial, winning two and drawing the other two - even if they were disappointed not to turn those into wins as well.

Robins was confident this squad could churn out performances to get results like that and he is buoyed by the reaction at home and on their travels as he tries to nurture a bond between supporters and players.