STOKE manager Tony Pulis has warned his players ‘‘it’s a long way from over’’ as they prepare to entertain Blackburn in another huge relegation battle on Saturday.

Many pundits believe Pulis’ team are virtually certain of Premier League survival after last week’s draw against Newcastle left them six points clear of the drop zone.

But the City boss has banned all such talk from the training ground and believes there will be more twists and turns before the season ends.

Pulis said: ‘‘There are still six games to go and it is so tight down there that almost anything can happen. We’ve emphasised to the players that they need to keep their foot on full gas but, in fairness to them, they know the score.

‘‘It’s going to be a very tough game against Blackburn, who have been in this league for a long time and have some very good players.”

Tomorrow’s game has been billed as a contest of muscle and brute force, but Pulis scoffed at that suggestion.

He said: ‘‘I read the other day where someone said we should not be in the Premiership.

That is music to my ears as a motivational tool because we are all spurred on by talk like that.

‘‘If people think Stoke City are a one dimensional team who just lump the ball forward, that suits me fine.

We’ve got Ricardo Fuller, James Beattie, Matty Etherington and Liam Lawrence, who are all good footballers.”