There is once again only one of our pundits brave, or stupid, enough to predict anything other than a Stoke defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.

The lads at TEAMtalk Towers are vying to be named the Prediction King as we attempt to tip up Stoke's result each weekend as part of out Insider feature, which looks at how a newly-promoted club adapts to the Premier League.

We've also got a home and away fan getting involved each week too and currently leading the standings is our Editor Simon Wilkes. Mark Holmes was the only one to correctly predict a Stoke draw at Liverpool last week, though, so the table is wide open.

It currently reads, based on one point for a correct result and two for a correct scoreline: Simon Wilkes 4, Opposition 3, Mark Holmes 2, James Marshment 1, James Knowles 0.

Stoke record v Chelsea

Both sides go into the game on the back of great results last weekend but Chelsea will certainly feel they boast the more impressive form of the two sides after remaining unbeaten.

Both claimed midweek Carling Cup victories - Stoke via a penalty shoot-out and Chelsea via a 4-0 win at Pompey - while they also both claimed draws in the Premier League last weekend.

The Potters battled their way to a fantastic 0-0 draw at Liverpool, while the Blues came from behind to hold Manchester United 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Prior to that, though, they Luiz Felipe Scolari's side chalked up another 4-0 success in the Champions League against Bordeaux and also sent Manchester City crashing back to earth with a 3-1 win at Eastlands.

Few people will be taking up Sky Bet's offer of 10/1 on a Stoke win, then. But Tony Pulis' side will be strong at the Britannia this season and, with Deco, Essien and Carvalho absent from the visitors' line-up, they might just fancy their chances of causing an upset.

Saturday marks the 78th meeting between the two sides and the first since an FA Cup tie in North Staffordshire in 2003. Second-half goals from Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Jesper Gronkjaer earned Claudio Ranieri's men the win that day but the Potters did win the previous encounter; Paul Peschisolido earning them a 1-0 League Cup victory in London back in 1995.

And the League Cup threw up the most famous clash between the two sides - Wembley hosting the 1972 final that saw Stoke claim their only piece of major silverware to date. City were underdogs that day, too, and will need to raise their game just as much on Saturday to earn another shock win.

Chelsea have marginally the better record in games between the two sides - they boast 30 wins to Stoke's 22 - but the Reds have won 15 to Chelsea's 13 of games in the Potteries. The Blues do have a 100% record at the Britannia, though, courtesy of the 2003 FA Cup win.

Predictions

Mark Holmes (TEAMtalk's Insider): I thought all last week that we'd get something at Anfield and I was delighted to be proven right, especially considering it helped win me a tidy £115!

I must admit I've got less confidence going into this game against an awesome Chelsea side and I was ready to predict a Stoke defeat for the first time. I've had serious warnings from some Stokies not to do it, though, so I've been bullied into tipping a 2-1 home win.

I do think Ricardo Fuller's pace will cause problems and I reckon they'll feel the loss of Deco, Carvalho, Essien and Joe Cole - no matter what they tell you. Realistically they will beat us if they're on the game but every team has their off days and I'm hoping it will happen in front of arguably the most partisan home support in the league.

Simon Wilkes (TEAMtalk Editor): Well hats off to Homzy for last week's draw prediction - I wasn't alone in being let down by Rafa's Reds.

This week is a different animal altogether, though, as the Potters take on a truly mighty Chelsea line-up. The Blues are missing a few key men such as Essien, Carvalho and Deco but they're one of the top five teams in world football and even their fringe players are world class internationals.

They'll also relish the physical battle at the Britannia but there's no way the Potters will be peppered and so I'm going for a far from comfortable 2-0 victory for Big Phil's men.

James Marshment (TEAMtalk Deputy Editor): Stoke will obviously be boosted by last week's brilliant draw at Liverpool but this game will be even tougher.

The onus will be on them to attack more at home and that should play into Chelsea's hands, who have been excellent on the road this season. They've got unbelievable quality going forward and I just can't see the Potters keeping them out as they did Liverpool.

Scolari's side are equally as impressive at the back too and I reckon they might become the first team to keep out Stoke on their home turf. I'm also going for a 2-0 away win.

James Knowles (Stoke season ticket holder): Following on from the fantastic draw at Anfield (and the cup win over Reading) Chelsea have been warned and I'm positive they won't take us lightly.

But after thrashing Pompey in midweek, I fear they will simply have too much for us and I can't follow Homzy's example of going for a Stoke win, no matter how much I'd love to!

I reckon a gallant defensive display will be undone by a 70th minute goal by Frank Lampard before Stoke's search for an equaliser sees Nicolas Anelka's pace on the breakaway wrapping up a 2-0 victory for Chelsea.

And what the opposition think (Clive Reilly - Chelsea season ticket holder): I'm really looking forward to this game but I'm certainly not expecting an easy afternoon.

I've paid a fair bit of attention to Stoke this season and they've impressed me a lot to be honest. Fuller looks brilliant, Rory Delap's throw is out of this world and they must have done something right to keep a clean sheet at Anfield.

We really look the part at the moment, though, and I do think we'll have too much for Stoke on Saturday. We are missing a few of the big names but I actually think having Alex at the back will be better for us in this game because he's probably our one defender who can deal with Delap's throw.

I reckon it'll be a close game and I do see Stoke scoring but I'm hoping it's just a consolation in a 2-1 win for our boys.