HULL CITY v STOKE CITY (Sunday, 13.30 GMT):

Manager Phil Brown is clinging to his job by the finest of threads as HULL's dreadful record in 2009 shows no signs of improving. Brown could have been sacked in the wake of last week's defeat at Burnley, but was spared because of some woeful refereeing decisions and a spirited second half display.

He remains on borrowed time, however, and will only stay in the job if he can somehow mastermind a string of wins.

New chairman Adam Pearson is willing to give him a chance and believes he owes Brown this much considering the job he has done in getting the club into the Premier League in the first place.

Pearson explained: "He took the club from a very difficult position in the Championship to one that saw us safe with a game to spare. Sacking Phil is not something I thought about when agreeing to return. The record is not good enough, but what you also have to understand is how phenomenally successful were his first two years.

"I still think there is enough within Phil to get back to what he was doing very well until Christmas last year. I very much want it to work out with Phil, and that is why we will be giving him all the support we can. But if we don't start winning games it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy."

Strategy: Win at all costs! But Brown must find a way of overcoming Stoke's physical approach if Hull are to avoid being bullied into submission. The return of Jimmy Bullard will provide Brown with a huge boost and his energy and determination to do well could prove to be Hull's most lethal weapon.

Injury Update: Ian Ashbee (knee) remains unavailable, but Bullard will finally make his home debut nine months after becoming the club's record signing. Goalkeeper Bo Myhill has shaken off an ankle problem and returns to the starting line-up, but Geovanni is suspended.

STOKE find themselves in the unusual position of going into this game as the bookies' favourites - and are undoubtedly one of the last teams Brown would want to face.

Tony Pulis's troops have wrecked reputations and embarrassed egos ever since promotion to the Premier League and the fact that Brown so desperately needs a good result will be motivation enough for the visitors.

They secured a comfortable 2-0 win at the KC Stadium last season, with Hull in the throes of a slide they are yet to halt. And, with Stoke unbeaten in their four league games and boasting vastly improved away form, the bookmakers are probably right about predicting a Potters win.

But midfielder Rory Delap is urging caution. "What is happening at Hull makes no difference to us. I don't think they are in as much trouble as people are saying, but it's up to us to get a result there. If we go there thinking their club is in turmoil and it will be easy, then we are going to get turned over. We all know that."

Strategy: Stoke's away record is something to be proud of this season, for their travel sickness was so bad last term that it almost sucked them into a relegation scrap. Pulis knows how to beat Hull after last season's canter and will probably bring back Robert Huth for Andy Wilkinson to enable his defence to be at their most formidable.

Stoke were unusually frail at the back against Wolves last weekend, tossing away a 2-0 lead, but Hull are a different side to Mick McCarthy's. Their dreadful run suggests a lack of confidence which the visitors will look to ruthlessly exploit.

Injury Update: Huth returns from suspension and will probably take the place of Wilkinson. Mamady Sidibe's return from injury has taken a backward step after he limped off for the reserves in midweek with a hamstring problem. Salif Diao is doubtful with a groin injury.