Three defeats in their last four games have seen the Potters drop to within three points of the bottom three ahead of Saturday's clash with Newcastle at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke's home form has ensured they have kept their heads above water this season, with seven wins from 14 games compared to 11 defeats from 15 away. The difference in their results in 2011 has been particularly stark - six wins and two draws at home and six defeats and two wins away. Both those away victories came in the FA Cup, and Pulis admitted their run to the semi-finals has affected their league form. He said: "We're unbeaten at home since the Fulham game just after Christmas so our home form hasn't been too bad. What we've done is played a lot of cup games in that period of time, and we've won those games. "We'd have liked to have sprinkled it with a few results away from home but now we've got a run of home games, we've got more home games left than away games, and we have to make sure our home form is solid, as we have done over the last two and a half years. "With five games at home, we've got to make sure we get points out of those games." Tomorrow's match is the last before a two-week international break and, with a home clash against Chelsea and a trip to Tottenham to come immediately afterwards, a decent result is imperative for Pulis' side. He added: "We've got Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal to come so they're tough games, but you look at all the other teams and they've got tough games as well, which is brilliant for everybody." Newcastle sit two points and two places above Stoke but have also struggled for league wins lately, picking up only one from their last eight games. Alan Pardew's side have managed five wins away from home, though, and Pulis expects the Magpies to make their mark on and off the pitch. He said: "They've had good results away from home in the Premier League and, whichever team he picks, we know it will be a tough game. "They are supported by one of the great groups of supporters in the country and they'll get their backing without a shadow of a doubt. "So it's not only a challenge on the pitch, it's a challenge for our supporters as well." Glenn Whelan, Jon Walters, Marc Wilson, Danny Collins, John Carew and Thomas Sorensen will all link up with their respective international teams after the match, and there is an outside chance that contingent could be increased when Fabio Capello names his England squad on Sunday. Ryan Shawcross and Matthew Etherington have been in the running on a number of occasions, and Pulis would be delighted to see them included for the matches against Wales and Ghana. He said: "Fabio Capello picks the England team, not me, and if picks them it would be brilliant for the football club. "If he doesn't, it doesn't make any difference to me or this football club. We think they're terrific players and they've come on leaps and bounds." Stoke are likely to be without Carew tomorrow as he continues to battle a back problem. "We're hoping he might have an outside chance for Saturday," added Pulis. "If he doesn't make that then, with a two-week break, he'll be up and running after that."
