Stoke City vs Wolves preview - Pulis impressed by Woodgate

On the eve of their clash with Wolves, Stoke boss Tony Pulis appears poised to offer Jonathan Woodgate a new deal at the end of this season, even if the centre back fails to trigger a clause in his current contract.

Woodgate signed for the Potters last summer on a free transfer from Tottenham eager to again resurrect his injury-hit career.

City took no chances on the 32-year-old centre-back, handing him only a one-year deal, but with the guarantee of an extension should he make a certain number of appearances.

With 21 matches behind him for Stoke, Woodgate needs to play in just three more games to assure himself of a place in the squad for next season.

However, after only recently returning from a month out with a calf problem, the former England international has just seven matches to hit his magic tally.

Pulis, though, has indicated Woodgate, who has already made it clear he wants to stay, has seemingly done enough to earn himself the contract extension anyway.

"If he doesn't get the games in that doesn't mean we aren't going to offer him a new contract," said Pulis.

"Woody has been brilliant, playing in a lot more games than people probably thought he could play, and he's good to have around.

"He's been very good for (Ryan) Shawcross and (Robert) Huth in lots of respects.

"So let's get the season out of the way and then we'll sit down and discuss everything with (chairman) Peter (Coates) and the family."

Pulis has doubts over three players for the Wolves clash in defender Andy Wilkinson (groin) and wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant (both ankle).

Meanwhile, striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has set his sights on ending his five-month wait for his 50th Wolves goal and helping launch a last-ditch bid to avoid relegation.

Wolves will go into the game at Stoke six points adrift of safety after last weekend's 3-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers Bolton.

Ebanks-Blake was restored to the starting XI against the Trotters after a frustrating campaign in which a medial knee ligament injury halted a promising start.

He said: "I'll be getting that 50th goal soon, don't worry about that, but Premier League survival is the most important thing.

"All we can do now is give it our best for these last seven games and what will be will be.

"We can't worry too much about the other teams now. It's a case of just play each game, try and pick up as many points as we can and see what happens.

"We have to keep going and, at the end of it, whatever happens, then is the time for people to sit and reflect and have their opinions.

"While we are still mathematically able of surviving then why not be positive and see what it brings? We've got a squad here that want to play in the Premier League and want to stay in this league.

"We've just got to all pull together between now and the end of the season and give it our best."

Boss Terry Connor will be without midfield duo Jamie O'Hara and Stephen Hunt after the pair both underwent groin surgery this week.

Fellow midfielder Karl Henry could be recalled to the starting line-up against his former club after playing an hour for the reserves in midweek following his recent hamstring problem.