stokecityfc.com can announce that there has been a change of opponent for the second of the two pre-season friendlies to be played out in Austria later this month.

The Club will now face Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv instead of German outfit Hoffenheim.

The match will take place on Tuesday 21st July in Leoben, about an hours drive from the training camp in Irdning. The game will kick off at 6.00pm local time.

Hapoel are twelve time Israeli champions and are behind only local Tel Aviv rivals Maccabi in terms of success in their country.

Last season, the "Red Demons" finished runners-up to Maccabi in the Israeli Premier League.

They also progressed through the UEFA Cup qualifying stages to reach the first round of the competition, where they suffered a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Saint-Etienne.

Players in the squad include former Wimbledon midfielder Walid Badir, who now captains the side, Israeli international Gil Vermuth and Bulgarian Dimitar Telkiyski.

AUSTRIA SCHEDULE

Wednesday 15th July
Players travel to Austria

Friday 17th July
FC St Pauli (Irdning, Austria) 6.30pm local time

Tuesday 21st July
Hapoel Tel Aviv (Leoben, Austria) 6.00pm local time

Wednesday 22nd July
Players return to England