West Bromwich Albion defender Carl Hoefkens returns to the Britannia Stadium this weekend confident he will get a warm reception from Stoke fans.

The Belgium international is expected to feature in the game after coming back from two weeks sidelined with a hamstring injury and is relishing the challenge.

The 29-year-old right back said: "I am looking forward to going back - I had a good time over there. They were my first team in England and to go back one day has always been important to me.

"I have never really had an injury like this before and I didn't really know what it was. I felt something was wrong at Plymouth away but I kept on playing and then at Coventry at home it got worse and I had to say to myself I need to rest it to get it healed.

"I have rested it for two weeks but I am back now. Even though it was Stoke I wasn't pushing myself back to play because I am professional enough to know I have to rest.

"This was a game I didn't want to miss but so is every game."

"It should be a good game. I have never had a problem with there so it should be a good reception from the fans."

Hoefkens, who joined Albion in a £750,000 move from the Potteries in August, admitted Stoke's direct play was very different from that he had now adapted to at league leaders Albion who are renowned for their pass and move style.

He said: "Stoke play a total different style of football and we have to be mentally prepared for the trip to Britannia - it is the coldest stadium in the world!

"It is unbelievable. Of course the fans are going to back them and for them it is one of the biggest games of the year.

"It is going to be a very hard game over there. They will be thinking that everyone thinks they are a small side and they won't allow any little club syndrome so it will be tough. They will go for it and it is up to us to cope. "

The defender, who still has several friends in Stoke although the side is radically changed to that he left behind last summer, added: "We tried to play with a bit of flair last year - we had players like Lee Hendrie so we really tried to play football.

"This year I don't think Stoke are - maybe they don't have the players or they have just changed it which is a shame because when they showed flair it paid off. As a player you always want to play like West Brom play but perhaps some players like the way Stoke play because they have other qualities."

Hoefkens insisted the West Brom staff and players were keeping their feet firmly on the ground despite their lofty standing.

He said: "We are not reading too much into our league position. The matches come so thick and fast in a short period.

"We just want to be up there at the most important time of the year when it is March or April when we can then push on and try and make that first or second spot."

As for the physical challenge Stoke presents, Hoefkens says that won't come as any great surprise.

"We played against Watford and Plymouth and they are physical and we enjoyed it. If we can match them physically then we can work round them.

"To be honest, I think Stoke are the best team in the league at what they do. They will be in our faces and make it difficult so it will be tough. We know what is coming though so we have to be ready for it."