Town manager Joe Royle says his side need to concede less goals if they are to make the play-offs.
Royle is aware that his side's defensive fraities could cost them: "I'm not huge on statistics but I'm well aware that we have the worst defensive record of the clubs in the top eight.
"We need our goals-against tally down, because I know we can always score a goal. It is not just the back three or four as well, we need to defend better as a team.”
The Town manager recives a boost this weekend with Hermann Hreidarsson back after a four-match suspension while John McGreal could also return having recovered from a pulled muscle in his back.
Up front Marcus Bent is all but over a hamstring problem and could make his return against Stoke. Pablo Couñago misses the final game of his four-match ban.
Stoke have worries about Wayne Thomas and Peter Hoekstra. The Potters travelled to Suffolk last night ahead of the game.