Former Stoke City midfielder Danny Pugh says he "didn't expect" the club to be in a Championship relegation fight on the final day of the season.
The Potters are 18th in the table, just two points above the drop zone and face one of their rivals in Derby County on Saturday (12:30 BST).
Should they lose to the Rams, they would still be safe as long as Hull City and Luton Town do not pick up wins also, nor Preston North End earn a point against Bristol City.
"We were hoping it wouldn't have come to this," Pugh told BBC Radio Stoke.