Good afternoon and welcome to the start of the Premier League weekend! We begin at Craven Cottage where Fulham entertain Stoke. Two clubs whose form has dipped in recent times, and could do with kick-starting the remainder of their campaign today. Kick-off in 45 minutes.

Away we go! Stoke get us started in their away kit.

I'm Mark Patterson, and I'll be bringing you the live text commentary on this one. As usual, all your thoughts and predictions on the game are welcome via Twitter @Mark_Eurosport

We're expecting Fulham to line up in a 4-4-1-1, with Ruiz in the hole. Stoke are in a more orthodox 4-4-2 with Walters and Crouch playing together up front.

Glove-watch: Not too many players in gloves despite the near-freezing conditions in London today. Unsurprisingly Dimitar Berbatov is wearing them...

The palyers are out into the middle, both sets of players shaking hands.

Tony Pulis: "The aim is to get as many points as we possibly can. We set a certain target every year and we are still short of that, but we have twelve games to go so it’s important that the players stay focused now because we’ve got a tough game at Fulham in a couple of weeks. Our away form, again, hasn’t been spectacular and we’ve relied on our home results, but that’s always the case as it’s very difficult to win away from home in the Premier League. We’re aiming for as many points as we can"

Martin Jol: "Stoke play a style that is difficult to play against for any team. They are probably the one team in England that do that - with set-pieces, throw-ins, with that style and getting their keeper to play the first ball to the strikers. I can’t say that they don’t play, but their main purpose is to deliver – to get the ball to the box, that is their main purpose and that is their style. They pressurise you, they try to simplify matters, they won’t let you play out from the back."

Stoke have won just once in their last 22 away Premier League trips. They’ve also got a poor away record against London clubs. They’ve not won in their last 14 Premier League trips to the capital since a 1-0 win at today’s opponents Fulham in May 2010. The Potters have only scored in 5 of those 14 trips and scored just one goal in their last five visits to London. (Infostrada)

Marc Wilson does indeed return for Stoke, playing for the first time since October 27. Brek Shea is on the bench for the first time, and could make a debut. Jonathan Walters starts his 78th straight Premier League game.

Quite a few bits and pieces from the team news, then. For Fulham Dimitar Berbatov makes his 200th Premier League appearance today. He becomes the first Bulgarian to do so. He has scored 83 PL goals for his 3 PL clubs (27 for Tottenham, 48 for Manchester United and 8 for Fulham) and provided 31 assists (10 for Tottenham, 18 for Manchester United and 3 for Fulham). He has three in nine against Stoke.

FULHAM: Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Kacaniklic; Ruiz; Berbatov – Subs - Etheridge, Baird, Hughes, Emanuelson, Kacaniklic, Petric, Rodallega /// STOKE: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Walters, Whelan, Cameron, Nzonzi, Etherington; Crouch – Subs - Sorensen, Whitehead, Kightly, Shea, Adam, Jones, Jerome

More team news: Brek Shea and Marc Wilson are both set to feature in Stoke's squad. Winger Shea, who has been recovering from a foot operation, is yet to be included in a Potters matchday party following his January move from FC Dallas, while full-back Wilson's last involvement with the first team was when he broke his leg against Sunderland in October. The pair are now fit for selection, as is forward Cameron Jerome, despite suffering a knock to his knee.

Full team news as we get it, but here's what we expect: Fulham midfielder Kieran Richardson will miss the visit of Stoke despite nearing a return from a calf injury. Richardson has not played since the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on January 19 but has returned to training. Sascha Riether is back in the squad after he missed the 0-0 draw at Norwich a fortnight ago, having been taken ill the night before the match.

Stoke and Fulham aren't really in the running for Europe, and they're not thought of particularly as contenders for the drop either. 10th and 12th, with another season of Premier League football beckoning.