When West Ham United travel to Stoke City on Saturday, they will be looking to end a seven-match winless run against the Potters at the Bet365 Stadium.
And on a three-match unbeaten run, the confidence is high in the Hammers camp going into the clash which could potentially be Stoke’s sixth defeat in seven matches.
Saturday’s hosts, though, do have a good record against West Ham, and have not lost to the east Londoners in their last seven meetings.
But for all the statistics, it will be about what happens on the day that defines the result and the following three players for each side could swing the balance…
Should Mark Noble be on the bench and not starting this afternoon, this pair are likely to be the side’s skippers, with Winston Reid deputising for the midfielder who is now available to play after suspension.
Shawcross, who has nearly been with Stoke ten years now since leaving Manchester United, has once again been a key player for his team this season and dominates most defensive stats when compared with many Premier League centre-backs.
Not Winston Reid, however, who comes close to Shawcross in terms of aerials and tackles won, and makes for clearances per game than the Englishman.
And with more assists, goals and a better passing success rate, it’s fair to say Reid is the more dangerous of the duo going forward for his team.
At left-back, Arthur Masuaku had his best game in at West Ham shirt against Everton last week, impressing in the goalless draw, and he looks set to keep his place in the side.
In the same position for Stoke is likely to be Erik Pieters, who has missed just one Premier League game for the Potters this season.
Ever reliable, Pieters defends solidly but is less likely to affect the game high up the pitch like Masuaku, proven by just his one assist.
Though the Frenchman also just has the single assist this term, Masuaku has missed much of the season through injury and when he does play, loves to get forward at every opportunity.
There may be a vast difference in size between Joe Allen and Cheikhou Kouyate, but the pair’s importance to their respective teams is huge for both.
Allen has contributed with a number of goals this season – more so than Cheik – and a side to his game rarely shown at Swansea and Liverpool has been clear to see since last summer’s UEFA Euro 2016.
And on the opposite side, Cheikhou’s sheer physicality is difficult for any opponent to deal with. Powerful, quick and strong, the Senegal captain is rarely beaten in the air or for strength and pace.
Could one of Allen or Kouyate, as they have both been at times this season, be the matchwinner at the Bet365 Stadium?