Nicky Shorey knows Villa must maintain the standards set in recent weeks to overcome Barclays Premier League newcomers Stoke City this afternoon.

The summer signing from Reading played in the 4-1 UEFA Cup victory against FH Hafnarfjordur and helped Martin O'Neill's men beat Manchester City 4-2 in last weekend's League opener.

Now he is looking for another professional display at the Britannia Stadium and reflected: "We have to keep pushing on. The season has come thick and fast and hopefully we can carry on the same way we did Sunday. Their home crowd will be making a lot of noise and it's up to us to quieten them down.

"It is always a tough game, especially at their 'gaff' - it is a hard place to go as I've found out a lot of times in the past.

"It will be no different this time. It's their first home game in the Premiership and they will be really up for it. They had a poor result the other day and will be really up for it."

Shorey will come up against an old friend this afternoon in the shape of former Reading striker Dave Kitson. And he knows the £5million striker could be a real threat.

Villa's left-back added: "Dave Kitson is a very good player. He is sometimes a bit under-estimated for a big lad but he has got great feet, he can pull out a bit of skill from nowhere and bang the ball in the back of the net. So we have to be watchful."