Here we go again. Just a matter of days after their defeat to Swansea City, Bristol City are back in Championship action as they welcome Stoke City to Ashton Gate.

Liam Manning's Robins are looking secure a first Championship win in three outings when Mark Robins' side make the trip to the West Country this evening. Although City have only lost one of their last four league matches, the pressure is on the Reds to keep the pace with the play-off race.

The Potters have had a tough season so far. After their first 30 games, Stoke have only picked up 32 points, leaving them just four points clear of Derby County who occupy the final spot in the relegation zone. However, results have improved under Robins' management, with the 55-year-old only losing two of his opening seven matches.

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Manning is expected to be without both Cam Pring and Joe Williams. The former is understood to still be recovering from a hamstring injury sustained on New Year's Day and the latter continues to serve his suspension having been shown a straight red card against Oxford. While Ross McCrorie is again in contention having served his suspension, Luke McNally is a doubt after he was forced off against Swansea.

After such a quick turnaround from Sunday's game and with a Severnside derby clash against Cardiff City on the horizon on Saturday, the City head coach will have to manage his squad carefully over the coming days.

With that in mind, here's how we think the Robins will line-up against Stoke City on Wednesday evening...

Goalkeeper and defence

We're sure there will be some supporters calling for a change between the posts this evening after Max O'Leary played a part in Swansea's winner at the weekend. While the Bristol City stopper simply had to do better, it would be a shock if he was dropped from the starting line-up as a result of his error.

Ahead of the 'keeper, Liam Manning has some big decisions to make, particularly if Luke McNally isn't available. While it is unclear what the nature or severity of the centre-back's issue is, the Robins boss admitted that he was guessing it wasn't going to be great news. With such a quick turnaround between games, our expectation is that McNally will be left out.

The former Burnley man's absence could provide the perfect opportunity for Manning to revert back to a back four. That was his preferred system at the start of the season and with no other natural, senior centre-backs at his disposal, for a lot of fans the time is right to return to that formation.

However, with only two free days between games, our bet is that Manning will stick with the back three and Haydon Roberts will drop in alongside Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner. Roberts has excelled in the past in that deeper position, and having a left-footed defender on that side of the back three should benefit the Reds in possession.

Midfield

With Haydon Roberts expected to drop into the back three, there is likely to be a spot up for grabs at left wing-back this evening. Although Brian Tinnion told BBC Radio Bristol that Cam Pring was set to return to first-team training on Monday, Liam Manning had insisted last week that tonight's clash with Stoke and the weekend's Severnside derby against Cardiff City would come too soon for him to make his Bristol City return.

That means it will almost certainly be a shoot-out between Ross McCrorie and Elijah Morrison on the left flank. Although several supporters are desperate to see the latter get his chance in the first team, history suggests it will be McCrorie who gets the nod. The Scotland international started at left wing-back against both Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday. Having served his suspension against Swansea, he should be fit and ready to feature from the off against the Potters.

On the opposite flank, our bet is that Mark Sykes will continue. The Ireland international could have and should have done more to prevent the Swans' winner at the weekend, but he posed a constant threat in possession. He remains City's best crosser of the ball, and as long as he is fit enough to start two games in quick succession, he should be included in the starting line-up.

Between the two wing-backs, our bet is that Jason Knight and Max Bird will continue at the heart of midfield. On a frustrating afternoon against Swansea, the two former Derby County men were probably the Reds' most effective players. With Joe Williams still suspended, it would be a surprise to see either player drop to the bench.

As he has done in recent weeks, Marcus McGuane will offer a more defensive presence on the bench. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the former Oxford United man feature in some capacity, given the fixture congestion.

Attack and striker

It's safe to say neither of Bristol City's two number 10s had the best of afternoons against Swansea City. Neither Anis Mehmeti nor Scott Twine saw an awful lot of the ball and both players were withdrawn in the second half.

However, our bet is that both players to keep their place in the starting line-up. Twine hasn't hit the standards expected of him in recent weeks, but he is capable of producing a moment of magic that can decide a game. He is arguably one of the most integral parts of the way that Liam Manning wants his team to play and since returning from injury, he has started every game he has been fit to feature in.

Similarly, Mehmeti's form has dipped when compared to how he started the season. The Albanian international struggled to impact proceedings against Luke Williams' side, but he remains one of the Robins' biggest goal threats from open play.

If one of the 10s is to drop to the bench, we imagine it would be Mehmeti rather than Twine. Although we expect the former Wycombe winger to keep his place, it really would not come as a complete shock if one of George Earthy or Yu Hirakawa were given the nod instead.

Ahead of the two attacking midfielders, we think Sinclair Armstrong will get the nod as City's number nine, assuming he is fit. The Ireland youth international has been excellent off of the bench in his last two outings and is more than deserving of a run out from the off. So far this season, Manning and his coaching staff have managed Nahki Wells' minutes incredibly carefully. With such a quick turnaround between matches, you'd imagine the 34-year-old is unlikely to start again.

Alongside Sam Bell and Harry Cornick, the Bermudian international will offer an alternative option from the bench. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Wells replace Armstrong on the hour mark, as the Reds' head coach tends to rotate his striker midway through the second half.

By giving both Armstrong and Wells 90 minutes across the clashes with Swansea and Stoke, both players should, in theory, be fresh enough to lead the line against Cardiff at the weekend.

Bristol City XI (3-4-2-1): Max O'Leary; Haydon Roberts, Rob Dickie, Zak Vyner; Ross McCrorie, Jason Knight, Max Bird, Mark Sykes; Anis Mehmeti, Scott Twine; Sinclair Armstrong

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