The Premier League takes a rather unusual format this weekend, with no early fixture on Saturday. Instead, Gameweek 11 kicks off with four 3pms, including Stoke City's visit to West Ham.

Both sides were expected to further push on this term after incredibly positive 2015/16 campaigns, but the Hammers and the Potters have found the new season much tougher than they expected, both getting off to rather abysmal starts.

Stoke had to wait eight weeks for their first Premier League win, whilst the Hammers picked up just four points from their first seven games.

With that in mind, Saturday's meet at the London Stadium is certainly a curious one, with Mark Hughes and Slaven Bilic both looking to escape the bottom half of the table as soon as possible.

And with not much to choose between the two sides, it looks set to come down to which dominates the key individual battles. We've taken a look at five that will decide the outcome.

Adrian vs. Lee Grant

Adrian

An unusual battle to start with but nonetheless one of potentially crucial importance. Neither West Ham nor Stoke City have been particularly solid at the back this season, currently ranking third and fifth bottom respectively throughout the Premier League in terms of goals conceded and claiming just five clean sheets combined from a potential 20.

With that in mind, there will almost certainly be a handful of chances for both sides on Saturday, so the respective goalkeepers will have their work cut out. Adrian has made the second-most saves of any Premier League goalkeeper this season, an impressive 33, whilst Lee Grant has mustered up 14 in five outings.

Jonathan Walters vs. Aaron Cresswell

Stoke City v Sunderland - Premier League

Aaron Cresswell's importance to West Ham's offensive efforts has further magnified since returning to the starting line-up in his new wing-back role. The England international's threat on the overlap has been a defining feature of the Hammers' attacking play over the last few seasons, but he's now their solitary outlet on the left-hand side and will need the energy to continue providing width whilst not leaving the channel between himself and the centre-back too far open.

But if there's one Premier League wide-man almost tailor-made to combat a gifted wing-back, it's Stoke City's Jonathan Walters. The Irishman is renowned for his industriousness and with Marko Arnautovic suspended, he looks certain to come into the starting XI. He's got the legs and the determination to track Cresswell back, whilst his threat at the far post could well decide the match if the West Ham man overlooks his defensive duties.

Dimitri Payet vs. Joe Allen

Stoke City v Swansea City - Premier League

Joe Allen's been a man reborn since moving to Stoke City in the summer, particularly finding great success in his somewhat unlikely No.10 role. Indeed, the Welshman's claimed three goals and two assists in five appearances operating at the tip of the engine room, although he may find his scope to attack a little more limited on Saturday without the suspended Arnautovic and injured Xherdan Shaqiri.

Dimitri Payet, meanwhile, remains one of the most formidable attacking midfielders in the Premier League, despite West Ham's tribulations this season. In fact, he's averaged the most created chances per match, a staggering 4.1, of any player in the division this season. But in a similar vein to Allen, the Frenchman's contributions could be curtailed by the absence of a dependable goalscorer.

With that in mind, this duel of the No.10s could come down to who makes the best out of unaccommodating circumstances.

Mark Noble vs. Charlie Adam

West Ham United v Chelsea - EFL Cup Fourth Round

Although both clubs have invested substantial sums into sourcing rather hipster talents from abroad, at the heart of each starting XI remains typically British DNA in the form of Mark Noble and Charlie Adam.

Captain Noble is West Ham through and through, to the point where form doesn't appear to have an effect on his involvement in the first team. Adam, meanwhile, has only recently reclaimed a place in the starting line-up but excelled in the 3-1 win over Swansea on Monday night and appears hell-bent on re-establishing himself with Scotland before they play England in two weekends' time.

Between two British, battle-hardened, old-fashioned central midfielders, expect this skirmish in the middle of the park to be full of shin-shattering tackles and long-range pile drivers.

Wilfried Bony vs. Winston Reid

Britain Soccer Football - Hull City v Stoke City - Premier League - The Kingston Communications Stadium - 22/10/16
Stoke City's Wilfried Bony
Reuters / Scott Heppell
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Although Stoke City's attack will be blunted down the flanks this weekend, it's spearhead should be as sharp as ever after finally breaking his goalscoring duck on Monday night. Indeed, Wilfried Bony ended a worrying barren run with a brace over Swansea City, helping inspire a 3-1 win.

That could well kickstart the Ivory Coast international's season and usher in the kind of form that earned him a big-money move to Manchester City back in January 2014.

Consequentially, Winston Reid will have to be on his toes. The New Zealand skipper is a real leader at the back and one of the few defenders Slaven Bilic's been able to rely upon this season. Furthermore, in terms of aerial threat, he should be able to keep Bony quiet.