Stoke City (18/5 to beat Man City) head to Wembley on Saturday afternoon to do battle with Manchester City for the FA Cup – and Tony Pulis’ side, despite being underdogs, can be more than just spectators.

The Potters are not fancied by the bookies ahead of their first ever FA Cup final, and although this is certainly justified – they face a City side which has had millions injected into it – Stoke should not be underestimated and can certainly spoil the party.

Some questioned whether Stoke could recreate their home form – which they rely on in the league – at Wembley in their semi-final against Bolton.

But the Potters managed a 5-0 thrashing over the Trotters to send them back up the M6 with their tails firmly between their legs, dispelling any doubt that they would not be able to play at the national stadium.

The club will be disappointed to be waiting on winger Matthew Etherington for the clash – the 26-year-old has been instrumental this season for Tony Pulis’ side – but is facing an uphill battle to be fit by Saturday morning.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini even stated that Stoke will be a tougher prospect than semi-finalists Manchester United as it is Stoke’s “game of their life” and Mancini’s side are 11/2 to register a 1-0 victory – the same scoreline they managed in the semi.

However, the Italian believes that history beckons for City – with the club trying to break their 35-year trophy drought.

Mancini is currently waiting on the fitness of talisman, Carlos Tevez,  who is EVS to score at anytime, but has been struggling with a hamstring problem for the last month. However, City’s desperation to get Tevez fit will not fill the rest of their team with confidence.

The Argentinian striker only managed seven minutes in the 1-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday night, and Mancini is willing to wait until Saturday morning to make a decision on whether to include him.

It is a real concern for City that without Tevez their frontmen are simply not scoring enough goals. Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli have managed just one goal between them in their last six games for the Eastlands-based club.

Meanwhile, Stoke’s Trinidad and Tobago international Kenwyne Jones (50/1 to score a hat-trick) has scored five goals in his last six games and Jonathan Walters (5/2 to score at anytime) has managed five goals in six FA Cup games this campaign.

There is no doubt that this will be a physical encounter with both sides possessing battling midfielders. Four of the last eight encounters between Stoke and Man city have seen a side reduced to ten men.

Both sides head into the final in good form, with Stoke unbeaten in their last five games while Man City have won four of their last five matches.

However, in head-to-heads the last four meetings between the sides have ended in 1-1 draws (1-1 after 90 mins can be backed 11/2).

The odds of either side winning on penalties is 11/1 and may just be a likely outcome, especially if it is nervy affair, which Cup finals so often are.

So expect a tight final with the Potters more than holding their own against their so-called superior opponents.

However, ultimately, we see a narrow Man City win to seal a great week for Mancini and co that will go some way to make up for the fact arch-rivals Man United are also likely to celebrating more success themselves over ther weekend.

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