Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew: My Eagles will be ready for Stoke trip

Palace have won five of their six games on their travels under Pardew, and now he says: "The lads need to know what is coming will be a fire storm."

The Potters, eighth in the table with 42 points and safe from the scrap at the foot of the table, are heading for their best season under manager Mark Hughes.

Pardew accepts how difficult the game will be.

He said: "We have to get it into our heads that this is a tough one, because Stoke's results at home have been terrific. So our strategy has to be the right one.

"Stoke have had a great season and we have no hope at all of catching them in the table. In fact we have a long way to go before we get anywhere near them."

Pardew is hoping that with free travel for the Palace fans, his side will respond  to the support at one of the most atmospheric grounds in the League.

He added: "We  just hope they make a lot of noise, we'll need them, we cannot afford to relax, the second year in the top flight is always more difficult after you have survived a promotion year.

"We certainly cannot afford to relax,  we know it is going to be tight to stay up again, but there is an extra air of confidence in the club after our recent wins, but seven days is a long time in football and we  still have work to do.

Palace are awaiting fitness reports on Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon, injured against QPR last week, but they will travel with the squad.