City ensured a place in the Premier League next season is firmly in their own hands following a tremendous 2-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City.
Mamady Sidibe proved to be the hero of evening as he bagged a brace to move the Potters up to second and all but end the Robins automatic promotion aspirations.
The Malian international superbly headed home the opening goal after 13 minutes before doubling his account with a superbly taken second.
Dele Adebola made it a nervy and tense last 20 minutes after he headed home from 6-yards. City held on however and sent thousands of City supporters home believing that this could be a year to remember.
Tony Pulis made four changes ahead of the game with Liam Lawrence, Glenn Whelan, Ryan Shawcross and Sidibe all returning to the starting line up.
On loan Derby man Stephen Pearson dropped to the bench with 15 goal midfielder Lawrence returning after overcoming a groin injury.
Shola Ameobi declared himself fit ahead of the game but Pulis opted to start Sidibe in attack partnering Ricardo Fuller.
Glenn Whelan also returned to the heart of midfield at the expense of Danny Pugh, while Shawcross started in defence following Griffin's hamstring injury last weekend.
There was an explosive atmosphere within the Britannia Stadium prior to the match, with both the City and Bristol fans buoyed by the news that Hull had slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Sheffield United.
Pottermouth's inspirational battle cry was blasted out over the PA system minutes before the two sides came out and it seemed to do the trick as the Potters looked eager to leapfrog the Tigers in to second place.
Firstly a quick counter attack down the right wing almost gave the hosts an early lead had anyone been able to latch on to Lawrence's dangerous cross which flashed across goal.
Lawrence again caused problems down the right wing and his trickery resulted in a free kick just five yards out side the penalty area.
The former Sunderland man stepped up and delivered an exquisite ball in to the box which was met by the towering Sidibe and powered into the roof of the net to send the 23,000 City supporters wild.
Gary Johnson's side created their first chance after twenty minutes with Dele Adebola muscling his way into the box, but his header looped over Carlo Nash and the crossbar.
The Potters doubled their advantage shortly after and again it came from the impressive Sidibe.
The Malian international played a delightful one two with Fuller on t he half way line and burst through on goal before keeping his nerve to slot the ball past the advancing Adriano Basso in to the bottom left hand corner.
Cries of 'Delilah' and 'We are going up' echoed around the Potteries as the Potters looked to finish the game before half time.
Fuller weaved his way past Jamie McAllister and in to the box but his effort was bravely blocked by Robins skipper Louis Carey.
Defender Carl Dickinson was next to try his luck, but his 35-yard strike flew over the crossbar just before the interval.
The visitors made two changes for the second half with both leading scorer Darren Byfield and one time City youngster Brian Wilson making way for David Noble and Lee Trundle.
Gary Johnson almost reaped his rewards in the 48th minute as former Swansea man Trundle beat Leon Cort and headed the ball inches past the post from 6-yards.
Michael McIndoe let fly a thunderous effort minutes later but on loan Wigan keeper Nash expertly gathered the ball underneath the cross bar.
City held firm to retain their two goal advantage though and an exceptional passage of football on the hour almost saw Sidibe cap off a tremendous performance with his first hat-trick.
The powerful striker latched on to Lawrence's clever ball in to the box and fired the ball past Basso, only for Carey to clear the ball from off the line.
Minutes later Lawrence curled a 30-yard free-kick just wide of the post, before Fuller saw his goal-bound strike blocked by McAllister.
The influential Lawrence looked determined to get his name on the score sheet as he again went close with a curling effort which Basso palmed over from the most acute angle.
Totally against the run of play the visitors got themselves back into the game on 67 minutes as Adebola met a dangerous corner with aplomb to halve the deficit.
A goalmouth scramble almost led to a Bristol equaliser with just 20 minutes remaining, however Shawcross managed to hack the ball of the line with Trundle breathing down his neck.
Brazilian keeper Basso had to produce a world class save to thwart Cort in the 75th minute as the former Crystal Palace star acrobatically headed another Lawrence corner goal-wards.
Sidibe was stretchered off in the closing minutes and was replaced by Ameobi, who blew his chance to make an immediate impact when he fired wide when he should have at least hit the target.
City fans were forced to endure an agonising five minutes of injury time. Fuller brought the ball down brilliantly and teed up Lawrence who fired wide of the far post.
Andy Wilkinson replaced Lawrence as Stoke looked to run down the clock.
After what seemed like an eternity, the referee blew the final whistle to a roar of relief as the Potters claimed their most important three points of the season.
CITY (4-4-2): Nash; Riggott, Shawcross, Cort, Dickinson; Lawrence (Wilkinson, 90), Delap (c), Whelan, Cresswell (Pearson, 82); Sidibe (Ameobi, 88), Fuller. Subs: Simonsen, Pugh.
BRISTOL CITY (4-4-2): Basso, Orr, McCombe, Carey (c), McAllister; Wilson (Noble, 46), Elliott (Vasko, 88), Skuse, McIndoe; Byfield (Trundle, 46), Adebola. Subs: Weale, Fontaine.
