Nigel Pearson was defiant in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday and he needs his team to show similar fight if they want to pick up a result at Stoke.
The Robins head into the contest on the back of a bleak run of form including just one win in their last eight matches. The 1-1 draw with Peterborough last weekend was far from good enough and that could reflect in Pearson's team selection in the Potteries.
Their opponents have struggled throughout the season and the once play-off hopefuls find themselves in 15th, 10 points above City.
Stoke do head into the fixture on the back of some form having won three out of their last four matches including a 3-1 away win over West Brom in their last outing.
Pearson provided a positive injury update on Wednesday, with three players closing in on a return from injury but the double-header of matches will come too soon for the likes of George Tanner, Andy King and Callum O'Dowda.
Tomas Kalas is also out, likely for the rest of the season, after undergoing surgery on a groin problem on Monday.
With an eye on a home match against Sheffield United on Monday, here's how we think City will line up to face their opponents.
Goalkeeper and defence
Max O'Leary was handed minutes in the week in City's Under-23 defeat to Ipswich at the High Performance Centre to help maintain his match fitness and shake off any rustiness in case he is called upon.
However it will be captain Dan Bentley who will retain his No1 spot in goal. The former Southend man has shown plenty of glimpses of his ability since coming back into the side and has arguably been one of the brighter performers in the last couple of months.
He was given a test against Peterborough and put in an assured performance, albeit one or two spills, but the trip to Stoke could pose a trickier afternoon and he will have to be at his best.
The defence poses a dilemma for the manager. Assuming he stays with the back three and plays wing-backs, Timm Klose and the form of Rob Atkinson mean they pick themselves.
Robbie Cundy has started the last five matches but was handed a difficult afternoon in the last outing and was replaced at half-time by Zak Vyner.
The fact that Cundy's contract situation, which expires at the end of the season, remains unresolved pours doubt on whether Pearson sees him as a solution at the back but with Kalas and Nathan Baker out, he doesn't have many options at his disposal.
Before the Posh contest, Cundy had enjoyed numerous solid performances at the back, particularly against Bournemouth so it all depends on whether he still has the trust of the manager.
Cam Pring could slot in at the back or Pearson could opt to go with a four although that hasn't particularly worked well away from home in recent matches. See Nottingham Forest and Barnsley when he reverted to the three at half-time.
At wing-back, Jay Dasilva remains the first choice while it's a toss-up as to who plays on the other flank. Alex Scott had the responsibility last week but had a quiet game and moved into the middle at half-time where he looked a lot more at ease.
Pring remains another option to play on the left and move Dasilva over to the right while Andi Weimann can also fill that role as he did away at Blackburn.
Midfield
The fitness of Joe Williams is the debate in midfield with Pearson admitting he will either play on Friday or Monday but not both.
Whether that has an impact on who plays alongside him remains to be seen but after securing 60 minutes at the weekend, Williams is fit to face Stoke and Pearson will likely need his tenacity in the middle of the park away from home.
Assuming Williams features, Pearson has a decision on his hands whether to stick with Matty James despite a disappointing showing against Peterborough, bring Han-Noah Massengo back into the starting line-up or move Scott into midfield.
Williams and James as a midfield partnership hasn't exactly pulled up any trees when playing alongside each other. Injuries have prevented the pair from building up a rapport on the pitch throughout the season but there have been signs the duo don't compliment each other effectively.
Massengo's energy is always beneficial but he is prone to an individual error, which is expected from a player of his age, and that is possibly reflected in why Pearson has started him twice in the last five matches. He also conceded the free-kick that led to Peterborough's equaliser.
His contract situation could also be having an impact on his role in the side. Pearson has previously mentioned how he is picking his team with an eye on next season but with question marks hanging over Massengo's future beyond the summer it's fair to suggest whether the manager would prefer other options.
Scott's form has gone off the boil as of late but he has plenty of credit left in the bank and remains one of the first names on the team-sheet. He is certainly more effective in midfield and Pearson will need him at his best to pull out a result so don't be surprised to see him back in the middle.
Strikers
Antoine Semenyo recovered from his knee injury last week to come off the bench to replace the ineffective Nahki Wells for the final 19 minutes against Peterborough.
He looked lively when he ran at his defenders but also slightly rusty having just returned from an injury picked up in the draw with West Brom before the international break.
Two games in quick succession may prove a challenge to his fitness but with another week of training under his belt Pearson is likely to risk him in attack against Stoke before considering his options to take on Sheffield United.
Again, where Weimann plays - only Pearson knows but with options at right wing-back in Scott and Dasilva the Austrian is likely to fill in his favoured No10 role as he chases that elusive 20th goal of the season.
That leaves Chris Martin in attack with the veteran striker looking to start his 39th Championship game of the campaign.
His aerial threat is a huge advantage, particularly away from home and Pearson recently described him as the best defender at the club when it comes to defending set-pieces.
With Stoke set to pose an aerial challenge, he will more than likely retain his spot in attack.
Bristol City (3-5-1-2): Bentley, Dasilva, Cundy, Klose, Atkinson, Pring, Williams, Scott, Weimann, Semenyo, Martin
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