Stoke host Middlesbrough in a crucial Premier League clash on Saturday and TEAMtalk's tipsters have once again met to predict the result.

The TEAMtalk office has been split since the summer over how Stoke will get in the Premier League this season so we decided to put our money where our mouths are and get our predictions down in writing.

Our Insider at the Britannia Stadium, Mark Holmes, reckons they'll finish 15th or above, Deputy Editor James Marshment has fancied them to scrape survival from the start and even our top man Simon Wilkes, a die-hard West Brom fan, has finally accepted they may escape the drop.

We've drafted in another Stokie, James Knowles, to give his views each week and we're also speaking to an opposition fan each week to see how they get on predicting the Potters' results against their side.

Last time out

Stoke travelled to Everton in high spirits last weekend but failed to end their wait for an away win as the Toffees eased to a 3-1 success at Goodison Park.

That was bad news for Stokies Mark and James who fancied something for the Potters, but extremely good news for our smiling Deputy Editor who moved to within a point of the lead after correctly tipping 3-1.

Both Simon and the Opposition also picked up a point, with the former just missing out after tipping 2-1 and Everton fan Tom Lynness off the mark with his 2-0 prediction.

The table, based on a point for a correct result and two for a correct scoreline, now reads: Simon Wilkes 19, James Marshment 18, Opposition 16, Mark Holmes 14, James Knowles 8.

Stoke v Middlesbrough Match Facts

Stoke go into the game on the back of a defeat but Boro's spirits are likely to be even lower after being denied a win over Portsmouth in the final minute at the Riverside Stadium last weekend.

That stretched their torrid record to just one win in 17 games and their away form reads seven straight defeats, with just one goal scored but 16 conceded. They have scored just eight goals on the road in all, the third worst record in the Premier League, but did record victories at Wigan and Aston Villa before the turn of the year.

Stoke on the other hand boast the league's seventh strongest home record with seven wins, four draws and just three defeats from their 14 games at the Britannia Stadium. They have not lost their since Manchester United sneaked a 1-0 win on Boxing Day, and have seven points from their last nine on home soil.

However they were beaten 2-1 on Teesside early this season and Middlesbrough will hope to record their first double over the Potters since 1959-60. Stoke will point to Amdy Faye's dismissal as the key moment of their defeat in the north-east, though, and take heart from a record that reads 24 wins, nine draws and 10 defeats on home soil.

Still, Boro have the edge in overall victories and did win on their one and only visit to the Britannia in 1998 when Nigel Pearson and Jaime Moreno earned them a 2-1 win in a season that saw City relegated to the third tier.

Predictions

Mark Holmes (TEAMtalk's Insider): I'm so confident Stoke will stay up that I have promised to wear a full West Brom kit into work should we go down.

I just can't see us failing to get the points, but I must admit my nerves are frayed ahead of the Boro game. They've lost seven away games on the bounce and our form at the Brit is brilliant so we really should win, but it's never that easy.

I reckon Boro will play deep and on the counter-attack and this is often when Stoke struggle as it's exactly what we like to do ourselves. Saying that Pulis has hinted at playing Fuller, Beattie, Etherington and Lawrence as our front four and I'd fancy those to get us some goals.

I think we'll slip up in one of our home games before the end of the season but pray we'll have too much for Boro on Saturday and win 3-1 with Beattie, Fuller and Lawrence on the scoresheet.

Simon Wilkes (TEAMtalk Editor): I'm not sure what makes me feel more sick to the stomach - Homzy's unshakeable confidence that the Potters are staying up or the prospect of predicting a home win for them.

I've got to take my hat off to them, they've made the Britannia Stadium a fortress this season and as much as I try, I just can't see Southgate's hapless Teessiders leaving the Potteries with anything.

Pulis is promising to start with Fuller and Beattie up front, with Lawrence and Etherington supplying the ammunition on the wings, so the hosts are going for the throat - and quite right, as Boro tip up at The Brit having lost a whopping 10 of 14 games on the road.

Don't get me wrong, I'd happily sacrifice seeing my lead as top tipster narrowed by the chasing pack for Tuncay, Downing or Alves to produce some magic - but having seen them lose 3-0 to my beloved Baggies at The Hawthorns in January, there's more chance of seeing pigs fly. 3-0 to Stoke.

James Marshment (TEAMtalk Deputy Editor): There'll be a huge amount of attention focused on this match, given that neither side can really afford to lose.

Stoke go into this match, quite rightly, as big favourites because of their impressive home record. But I think that favourites tag might sit a little uncomfortably on their shoulders - especially as their inability to win on the road has cranked up the pressure on them to do the business at home.

It's these type of games which decide who stays up and who goes down, but Boro for me haven't been playing all that badly of late and I just have a sneaky suspicion that they can get something out of this. I'm edging towards a draw, but I do think they'll be goals so I'm going for go for an entertaining, but very nervy, 2-2 draw.

James Knowles (Stoke season ticket holder): This fixture is simply massive. The term six-pointer was made for Stoke City v Middlesbrough on 21 March 2009. We have a fantastic record at home and, with our magnificent support, I can see Boro suffering under the pressure.

An early goal will set us on our way and ease the nerves but Stoke never do it the easy way! The encouraging team news is that Ricardo Fuller is likely to start alongside Beattie and his pace could give Huth and Wheater a defensive headache.

We will have to wait until midway through the second half for our win though. Substitute Mama Sidibe will let fly with his shin from 12 yards and find the back of the net. It will secure the most precious of 1-0 victories.

And what the opposition think (Duncan Cowley - Middlesbrough fan): The tag 'six pointer' has been brandished very liberally this season by pundits and supporters, but if ever there was one then this is it - Stoke v Boro.

It's a must-win game for both and must-not draw or lose for both too so it's intriguing and really on a knife edge. We all know of Stoke's aerial threat from throw-ins and the strange zonal marking so badly adopted by Boro, but Stoke are more than long-throw specialists.

I have been mightily impressed with Fuller and Abdoulaye Faye this season but in James Beattie I think Pulis may have made the transfer of the season - five goals in eight games is superb and he needs to be watched very carefully by the Boro defence.

Our main threat is on the counter attack with pace - we seem able to create several great chances each game but just don't have anyone to put them away. This is why King and Tuncay are so important for us against a Stoke defence I think we can break down - Shawcross wil need to play well and get his running boots on.

It's a tough game to predict because you never know which Boro or which Brad Jones will turn up, but if the right one turns up I can see us winning 2-1 with Tuncay and King getting the goals. However, if the wrong Boro turns up I can see Beattie having a field day - it all makes for a very intriguing afternoon.