Thomas Frank and Brentford will be looking to close the seven-point gap between themselves and league leaders Norwich City, whilst also fending off the competition from Watford and Swansea City over their shoulders.

The Bees ended a run of three successive defeats with a 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night, with goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Saman Ghoddos and Mads Bech Sorensen.

Stoke City were also in action on Wednesday night as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Oakwell against fellow play-off contenders Barnsley.

Michael O’Neill’s side head into the weekend in 10th spot, four points away from Cardiff City who currently take up the final play-off place.

Brentford were boosted by the return of Ivan Toney and Emiliano Marcondes to the matchday squad in midweek and are both in contention to start on Saturday. Marcus Forss may also return to the squad after missing the last game through concussion.

Steven Fletcher is a doubt for the visitors after limping off with a groin problem on Wednesday. O’Neill is also expected to be without James McClean, who has been pictured with his foot in an air boot this week, but Sam Clucas and Rabbi Matondo could return to the squad.

  • Predicted lineups

Brentford (4-3-3): Raya; Dalsgaard, Reid, Pinnock, Sorensen; Jensen, Janelt, Ghoddos; Mbeumo, Toney, Fosu.

Stoke City (5-2-3): Gunn; Smith, Souttar, Batth, Chester, Norrington-Davies; Allen, Thompson; Brown, Powell, Tymon.

  • Ones to watch

Ivan Toney has taken to life in the Championship like a duck to water since his arrival from Peterborough United last summer.

Toney was brought to West London as a replacement for Ollie Watkins and has 24 goals to his name this season, making him the league’s top goal scorer. This makes the 24-year-old just six goals away from equalling the record for goals scored in a single Championship season.

Goals have been hard to come by for Stoke since the season-ending injury suffered by Tyrese Campbell in December, with them picking up just three wins 15 games.

Nick Powell has been the biggest threat in the final third for the Potters since Campbell’s absence, as he became their first player to reach double figures this season in a recent win over Luton Town.

  • Previous meetings

This weekends' visitors were on the right end of a five-goal thriller at the bet365 Stadium back in October as they raced to a 3-0 lead within an hour before Marcus Forss scored two late replies.

Saturday will be Stoke’s first visit to the new Brentford Community Stadium, but you would need to go back to January 2000 to find the last time they won on the Bees’ home soil.

Stoke have not won a league game in London since they beat Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in November 2014. 29 winless visits to the Capital have come and gone since then.

Last time out...

This game is a 3:00pm kick-off and will be available to watch on both sides’ respective iFollow pages for £10.

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