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by Adam Stubbings

There is a buzz in the air around the Keepmoat this week as anticipation builds for one of the most intriguing matches of the season. Rovers head in to F.A. Cup action once again, facing their toughest opponents in some time as Premier League side Stoke City visit. The Potters are enjoying an excellent season, boasting recent victories over Manchester's City and United, as well as making it to the Capital One Cup Semi Finals, with Mark Hughes guiding them to a league position of 10th to date. They are just three points shy of a place in the top 6 however, and Hughes, a former Manchester United team-mate of Darren Ferguson, has assembled the club's most potent and talented playing squad since the days of Stanley Matthews.

Whether or not the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan Krkic actually turn out on Saturday remains to be seen, but whatever line-up is named will pose a monumental test for the Rovers to overcome. A busy schedule in league and cup for Stoke at present means we may benefit from a weakened team being named, with two important Premier League fixtures plus their League Cup visit to Liverpool coming up in the ten days after this fixture. Ferguson has stated he may change one or two things himself for the contest, but after a superb 3-0 away victory at Southend last time out, it would be wise to stick to largely the same set of players as they grow in both confidence and understanding.

Rovers haven't lost to Stoke in over 58 years, but in truth that stat is a misleading one as we haven't even faced the Potters since 1960, when we defeated them in the inaugural League Cup. We also came out on top in the only previous F.A. Cup meeting between the sides, winning 1-0 at the same stage we face them this year, way back in 1930. Stoke come into the game on the back of a home defeat to Liverpool in the Capital One Cup, and also lost to a late goal away at West Brom in the league last Saturday. Prior to these defeats however were victories over Manchester United and Everton, so it isn't as if they head to Doncaster on a terrible run of form.

It may not cause a difference to the actual squad selection, but the last few days have seen both Harry Forrester and Richie Wellens depart the club on a permanent basis. Forrester has been out of favour since the arrival of Fergie, and he has now left to link up with former boss Mark Warburton at Rangers, whilst Wellens has had his contract cancelled after a short loan spell at Oldham. Both have failed to endear themselves to fans and management alike in recent months and it seems a positive move for all parties involved. Meanwhile, the club are closing in on a new striker, and should be making Craig Alcock's loan from Sheffield United a permanent one prior to this Saturday's match.
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