TEAMtalk's Insider Mark Holmes has once again met up with Stoke boss Tony Pulis ahead of his side's Premier League game at Everton on Saturday.

Stoke go into the game in decent form having picked up two wins and two draws from their last five games, and confidence is high in the camp that they can pick up their first away win of the season at Goodison Park.

Pulis himself is hopeful of another good result, but he admits the Potters may have to rely on a touch of good fortune against an Everton side he rates highly.

"The last five games with two wins, two draws and a defeat have been decent for us and now we've just got to make sure we get similar results in the next 10 games.

"I hope we can get that first away win this weekend but it will be one of our toughest games out of the final 10 fixtures. I watched them play Middlesbrough and they're powerful and they can compete against the tougher and more physical teams in this league.

"They've also got the ability to do well against the teams that are a bit more skilful so Dave (Moyes) has got a real good balance there.

"But we'll give it our best shot. We went to Villa and a few other places and really give it a blast so we hope we can go there, do the same and just get a bit of good fortune."

One player that will be relishing the game more than most is former Everton striker James Beattie, who scored just 13 times in a hit-and-miss two and a half years at Goodison Park.

The 31-year-old got his career back on track in the Championship with Sheffield United and returns to Merseyside as the Premier League's most in-form forward with five goals in just seven games for Stoke.

Pulis refuses to focus on any one player ahead of the game but he does accept Beattie would be regarded as the bargain of the season if he continues his scoring run until the end of the season.

He said: "James has certainly been a bargain so far and we've been delighted with him, but there are still 10 games to go and everybody needs to realise the season is still up in the air. But if scores another five goals before the end of the season and it enables us to stay up, then yes you could say he was the bargain of the season.

"It's very important for players to fit in straight away at a football club and James has certainly done that. Scoring early goals really helped him but he's been embraced by the supporters and everyone at this club so feels at home, which is a lovely situation.

"He's larger than life and his personality has lifted everybody here, both in the dressing room and out on the field.

"I am sure he will be relishing going back to Goodison but it's not just about Beattie, it's about Stoke City Football Club and it's very important we approach this game in the right manner.

"James has got five in seven games because he has had decent service so we just hope that continues on Saturday."

One player that will not travel to Everton is Dave Kitson, the £5.5million striker whose start at the club was very different to that of Beattie's.

The 29-year-old failed to score a single goal in 18 appearances for Stoke and this week returned on loan to former club Reading, where he had previously been a huge hit.

Kitson is likely to make the switch permanent should the Royals win promotion back to the Premier League but Pulis feels he was simply unfortunate not to get the breaks Beattie has enjoyed at the Britannia Stadium.

He said: "Beattie has come in and scored five in seven but Dave's a very good player and it could just as easily happened for him.

"Sometimes that happens when a player comes in and things just don't fall for them, whether that be down to luck or any other scenario that can affect things.

"I'm just hoping he goes back to Reading, a good club with a good manager who he knows, gets a bit of confidence back and starts scoring goals.

"He will be on loan until the end of the season, the door is not shut on him, and we will see where it goes."

Stoke welcome Matthew Etherington back from a three-match ban this weekend and Pulis was happy to report he now has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

"We're delighted to get Matty back and we've not got everybody fit and raring to go, which is important with 10 games to go," he added.