Stoke City skipper Ryan Shawcross says they can't afford to take QPR lightly.

The Londoners have enjoyed a decent start to life back in the top flight and Shawcross knows they will provide the Potters with just as stern a test as any side they have faced this season.

"They are a good side and they have some fantastic players in their squad," he told Stoke's website. "Players like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton and Adel Taarabt are up there with the best in the league, so we will have to be on top of our game.

"People may look at them as a newly-promoted side and expect us to just turn them over, but we know that won't be the case. There are no easy games in the Premier League and you certainly can't ever afford to think you will turn up and win the game.

"We know though that we can be a handful for sides too and that is the only thing we will be thinking about - playing to the levels we know we can. If we can do that, then there is no reason why we can't get all three points and get things back up and running."