Tevez has been struggling with a hamstring injury and even though he made a substitute appearance in Tuesday's win over Tottenham, Mancini knows the South American is far from 100% and must choose whether to start with him against Stoke or put him on the bench.

Gareth Barry (hamstring) has recovered, meaning the only absentees will be Kolo Toure, who remains suspended, and Jerome Boateng (knee).

Team (from): Hart, Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Boyata, Wright-Phillips, Y Toure, De Jong, Vieira Milner, Barry, Johnson, Silva, Tevez, Dzeko, Balotelli, Jo, McGivern.