There is still a lot of bad feeling between the clubs, firstly becuase of crowd troiuble in 2000 and then Cardiff signed the Potters captain, Graham Kavanagh and their top striker Peter Thorne.
Stoke got their own back with the play off semi final win in 2002. Cardiff are in the ascendancy now though. Div 1 play offs and potential promotion a reality while Stoke are in the relegation zone.
The crowd trouble referred to above means that nowadays away fans for Cardiff v Stoke games must travel on arranged coaches. Over 1200 City fans will set off in the morning on a fleet of 25 or so coaches.
City are looking to bounce back after last weeks disappointing performance against Ipswich. Mark Bonner could be made the scapegoat with Lennie hinting that Willie Boland will start the game.
The City line up is expected to be
Alexander, Croft, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Robins, Boland, Langley, Gray, Thorne and Earnshaw.
Subs Margetson, Prior, Bonner, Gordon and Campbell.
Early reports that Rhys Weston could be available were unfounded. Rhys hopes to play for the reserves next Wednesday alongwith Alan Lee and Gareth Whalley. There is no place either for Graham Kavanagh who will resume training next week and hopes to be back in the side the visit of Millwll on December 20th.
Stoke are without defenders Clint Hill and Paul Wlliams while striker Gifton Noel-Williams is a doubt.
There will be a lot of attention on Peter Thorne. It's only the second time the striker has been back to the Britannia. He played in City's 2 - 1 play off first leg but missed the league game earlier in the season through injury.
Julian Gray is playing his last game for Cardiff unless Lennie can sort out his situation. Lennie want a third month on loan for Gray before making his decision as to whether to buy the player but he is under pressure from Crystal palace who want Cardiff to buy him now.