Salif Diao has told TEAMtalk's Insider Mark Holmes he wants to make up for his recent dip in form by helping Stoke to victory at West Brom.

Diao has been a key member of Stoke's side this season but his midfield place is under threat at the moment following a succession of below-par performances.

The Senegal midfielder has been substituted in two of the Potters' last three Premier League games and could even find himself on the bench at The Hawthorns this weekend.

Diao, though, is hoping for the chance to play himself back into form after being allowed to spend time in France and Senegal over the two-week international break.

He said: "I can't really say why my form has not been good because I've focused my mind on the games and then gone into them and worked hard.

"But I don't think I've been having very good games lately so the international break came at the right time for me.

"I went back to France to see my family and clear my head because I have not been happy with my recent form. It was good because I haven't seen them for a while."

Diao admits the lack of chances to see his family recently may be a contributing factor in his poor form, but he has put it out of his mind now to focus on a West Brom side he believes will offer a stern examination.

"People are saying West Brom are already down," said Diao, "but I've watched them on tv and think they could easily be out of the bottom three.

"I've been impressed with them. They haven't won many games but they've been unlucky and if you judge them on how they play they are one of the best teams.

"We've got a great record against them but this is football. Every week and every season is different and it's not good to talk about the past as that could play on our minds. Every week we need to prove something.

Stoke have lifted themselves three points clear of the bottom three with two wins in three, and victory over West Brom would move them 11 points clear of Tony Mowbray's men.

Diao is not surprised by the position his side find themselves in, but knows it could be even better had they managed to pick up a victory on the road.

He still believes they can achieve Tony Pulis' pre-season target of two or three away wins, but reckons a point would be a decent return from Saturday's trip to the Black Country.

He said: "Our league position is no surprise to me because we worked very hard during pre-season and knew the strengths we had.

"We've been very hard to beat at home for the last two years so we knew if we could carry that on and win two or three away that we'd be quiet safe.

"At the moment we're doing the first job and now we just need that win away from home. The gaffer said all along we need to two or three and I still think we can do it, but we need to make sure we start as quickly as possible!

"It would be really nice to do it on Saturday but it won't be easy. We are two teams at the bottom and at this stage of the season every point is welcome.

"A win would be good but the season is very long and everything is still so close to you can win one but then lose the next game and be back in the same place. It's about being consistent and making sure we don't get any defeats.

Diao added: "We've got eight games to go and the good thing for us is that it's in our hands. We're playing all the teams around us so all the cards are in our hand. We've just got to make sure we keep doing it."

Diao picked up a slight groin strain in training on Wednesday, but he is confident of being fit enough to start against Albion should he be required.