TONY PULIS insists Stoke City will need no firing up this weekend as they aim to finish on a high note in their final home match of the season.
Pulis' side will be looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat at Chelsea last Sunday when they face a buoyant Everton team who are looking to keep their slim hopes of Europa League qualification alive in front of a sell out crowd at the Britannia Stadium.
And whilst City's boss is fully aware of the threat the Toffees possess, he believes his players can get back to winning ways against a team he describes as 'a shining example'.
"Everton are a club that we should take notice of and look up to, and try and follow," he said at his pre-match press conference. "You look at the season they have had and obviously they started off really poorly, but David has done a terrific job with his players.
"He has some fantastic lads there who he has brought together over a period of time, and I think people are now seeing how good they really are. When they have everyone fit and at the top of their game they are right up there with the best sides.
"David has done things the right way, he hasn't gone out there and just splashed the cash, he has put things together over a space of time and that is what we are doing here.
He added: "We know how difficult the game is going to be because they have been outstanding over the past few months, but the lads are desperate to go out there and send the supporters home happy.
"Nobody liked what happened to us last week because that was totally out of character, but we can bounce back and that's what we will be looking to do on Saturday, because we want the season to end on a high."
Pulis revealed he still has his sights set on beating last season's final points tally of 45, an achievement he insists would represent a hugely successful season.
"When you look at the Football Club, to finish twelfth in the first year and get to the quarter finals of the League Cup was a brilliant achievement for us," he said. "Now to be in a position where we can finish no lower than thirteenth place, having also been in the FA Cup quarter finals beating some big teams along the way, shows progression again for us.
"We were safe with seven games to go and that tells you everything about the professionalism and character in our dressing room. Now we just want that last push so we can get over the final hurdle and cap off a remarkable season."
