The Potters get their Europa League Group E campaign under way in Ukraine on Thursday night with a clash against Dynamo Kiev at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium. The Staffordshire outfit are taking part in major European competition for the first time in 37 years, while Pulis is making his continental coaching debut. Having won all four of their qualifying games to reach the group stage, Stoke appear to have had no trouble adapting so far, but Pulis maintains he and his players are very much venturing into the unknown and must continue to take every lesson on board. "I am diving into a pool of water I am not used to so I am going to have to learn as we go along," Pulis said. "I am as naive as everyone else at this club. I'm not saying I'm a genius at this and that. "I'm looking forward to it. I'll make mistakes, but I'll certainly have my eyes open and learn from it." Pulis insists Stoke are relishing the challenge that lies ahead, despite their "horrendous" travel schedule. After tonight, the Potters also face trips to Israel to play Maccabi Tel Aviv and Turkey to take on Besiktas. That will require them to clock up far more miles than Pulis would like, but the Welshman is determined the club will embrace the task of balancing European action with their domestic commitments. "Someone asked me if I'm excited about being in Europe. I don't think we are in Europe if you look at the teams we are playing!" Pulis said. "We are in Ukraine, Israel and Turkey. We got the short straw and the travelling distances are horrendous but we are looking forward to it. "We have to manage the squad. There were some good players not in the team on Saturday (against Liverpool) who will get a chance to show what they can do. "We play Kiev, Sunderland on Sunday, Tottenham on Tuesday (in the Carling Cup) and Manchester United on Saturday; it's not a bad run of games but it is a big call for the next couple of weeks. "It is what everyone aspires to and we have to cope with it, but it is new to us." Pulis was keen to stress that his words were meant as no insult to Dynamo, a club of considerable European calibre who knocked Manchester City out of the tournament last season. "I've got the greatest respect for all three teams we are playing," Pulis said. "I know Kiev have played many games in Europe and have more experience than most teams we are going to play, they are a very famous club. "We watched video of the Man City games from last year, so we know it will be tough." Stoke's squad is being stretched by their exertions at home and abroad and record signing Peter Crouch, who has sat out training since making his debut against Liverpool, is among several players who have not travelled to Ukraine.
