The Potters were again frustrated by the Football Association's disciplinary panel this week when Walters's red card against Norwich City failed to be overturned.

Scotland international Adam was already serving a ban after retrospective action was taken against him for his alleged stamp on Olivier Giroud in the 1-0 victory over Arsenal a fortnight ago.

Walters could be replaced in the starting XI by Matthew Etherington, who has this week revealed that he will be leaving the Britannia Stadium at the end of the season following five years at the club.

Elsewhere, Robert Huth was scheduled to return from a long-term knee injury last week, but his rehabilitation is taking longer than anticipated and he is again expected to miss out.

Marc Wilson will thus continue his central defensive partnership with Ryan Shawcross in what, apart from the missing Walters, could be an unchanged XI from the one that started the draw with the Canaries.

West Ham are level on points with Stoke in the table following a run of four straight Premier League victories which was ended by Everton last time out. Sam Allardyce has few injury worries to contend with.

Ricardo Vaz Te and Joey O'Brien remain sidelined, but Carlton Cole is believed to be in contention after having two weeks to recover from the knock that he suffered in the first half at Goodison Park.

His niggle could give Allardyce the opportunity to recall £15m record signing Andy Carroll in attack, but defender Winston Reid may again have to be content with a place among the substitutes.

The New Zealander was a standout performer for the Hammers earlier in the season, but James Tomkins and James Collins have kept four clean sheets in six games in his injury-enforced absence.

Recent form

Stoke: DWLDDW

West Ham: LWWWWD

Possible starting lineups

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; N'Zonzi, Whelan; Etherington, Arnautovic, Odemwingie; Crouch

West Ham: Adrian; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney; Nolan, Noble, Taylor; Jarvis, Downing; Carroll

Sports Mole says: 1-0