Since returning to European football for the first time in 35 years courtesy of their run to the FA Cup final last season, the Potters have won seven of their eight matches. The only time they did not take maximum points was the away trip to Thursday night's opponents Dynamo Kiev at the start of the group stage, but they came within minutes of doing so only for Ognjen Vukojevic to score a late equaliser. Stoke sit four points clear at the top of Group E but, with a trip to Istanbul to face Besiktas to come in their final match, Pulis knows securing a draw at the Britannia Stadium on Thursday night is key. He said: "I looked at it as a group that was going to be extremely difficult. If you look at the three teams that we pulled, they've got unbelievable European experience. Thursday is a cup final for us. "If we can get through Thursday's game, we're qualified, so it's a massive game. We're hoping we get a full house and that the crowd will come along and really push us on to what would be a great achievement for us as a football club." Kiev have played almost 300 European games compared to Stoke's 12 but they do not tend to travel well. Of the 10 previous matches they have played in England, their only point came from a trip to Arsenal in the 1998/99 season. Pulis said of their trip to Ukraine: "It was a great performance and a great experience for us all. But they're unbeaten, they're top of their league. "We know that it's going to be a very tough game. They've got some exceptionally good players, very good technically. This will be as tough a game as Besiktas was here, and that was a tough game for us." Stoke's European adventure has certainly put a strain on their Barclays Premier League form, with Saturday's 3-1 victory over Blackburn ending a run of four straight defeats. Pulis and chairman Peter Coates accept that is a price they may have to pay, but they are certainly not about to start seeing the Europa League as an unwanted distraction. The Welshman said: "Winning games breeds confidence but if we have downs, we suffer them together, if we're doing well, we celebrate together, so it's within this football club. "We look after ourselves, we know what we're doing and what we're not doing. The pressure comes on from outside, which it will always do, that's professional football. "I've got a fantastic relationship with Peter and his family, they understand what we're trying to do and what we're trying to achieve. "We've played 10 three-game weeks, more than most clubs in the Premier League. That's a hell of an ask for a club at our stage in our development. It's difficult for the big clubs, never mind Stoke City. "What Peter and his family are very pleased with is that we've embraced this competition in what they would say would be the right spirit. It's been a great run for us, we've just got to make sure we get the result." Pulis will again name a strong side, with Andy Wilkinson, who is battling knee and calf problems, the only injury doubt. Cameron Jerome returns after serving a one-game European ban and Asmir Begovic is expected to start in goal. The Stoke boss, meanwhile, declined to comment on his appeal against a £10,000 fine imposed by the Football Association following comments he made after the Carling Cup defeat by Liverpool last month. Pulis was unhappy with referee Lee Probert's display and also criticised the official for decisions in previous Stoke games, but he insisted today he would have no problem with Probert refereeing future Potters matches.
