Potters test will be difficult - Osman

Leon Osman admits Everton's desire to continue playing free-scoring football will be challenged on Tuesday night at Stoke.

The Britannia Stadium is a difficult place for visiting teams and despite scoring 12 goals in their last three matches - four apiece in successive league games for the first time since 1964 - the Toffees will not have it easy. "It will be a test whether we can play the football we have played because we know we will have to compete physically with them," said Osman. "It is going to be a completely different test with a tight pitch and the type of football they play." Fellow midfielder Tim Cahill agrees and knows they cannot afford to allow their standards to drop even slightly. "I think it's hard to look forward to Stoke," the Australia international told everton.tv. "Physically they're very demanding and tactically, with their long throws and their set-plays, it can be quite a grind. "Tony Pulis has done a great job with that team and obviously the players that they've got work really well together. If we go to a place like that even at 90% it's not going to be enough."