Wolves winger Michael Kightly believes Saturday’s opponents Stoke are seen as a sexier option of the two until the Molineux men cut it in the Premier League.

Stoke’s successful survival battle last season guaranteed the Potters another £30million in TV money and helped boss Tony Pulis attract £5million pair Tuncay and Robert Huth in the summer, and £3.5million James Beattie last season.

Despite Wolves’ greater history and support, Pulis’ superior financial clout in the transfer market enhances their chances of survival and makes the Potteries side a better bet for prospective targets, according to Kightly.

The wide man said: “Stoke have been in the Premier League longer than we have and they have spent quite a bit of money trying to strengthen their squad.

“They deserved to stay up last season and the way they are going at the moment, they look as if they’re an established Premier League team.

“That is what we are hoping to do because they are a good team with a good manager who knows the game really well and knows how to get results.”

Kightly believes Stoke’s reputation as an uncompromising long-ball team reliant on set-pieces is unfair and wrong.

He added: “I think Stoke get tarnished with the brush of playing long ball a lot, but they’ve got good players and they are a good side.”