Video: Tony Pulis gears up for a Britannia welcome

If Tony Pulis can emulate his Stoke achievements with Albion, he will no doubt be more than happy.

But on the eve of the Albion boss's first return to the Britannia Stadium as an opposition manager, his trusted No.2 insists the Hawthorns project cannot be a carbon copy.

Dave Kemp spent 10 years at Pulis's side during two spells at the Britannia Stadium and, in the second spell, the pair helped lift the Potters from the lower reaches of the Championship to the security of mid-table in the Premier League.

Now they are looking to restore Albion to a similar spot following two seasons of struggle. But Kemp believes that is where the similarities end.

"With Stoke we went up from the bottom half of a lower division and that was a big thing," he said.

"This club is already in the Premier League and it's got a super stadium and everything is here, but you've got to get the team on the pitch right and that's what we're aiming to do now.

"It's been awkward. We're trying to do some business and change some things around and the transfer window goes four league games into the season.

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"Then there was a cup game and it's distracting, quite frankly.

"The sooner we get that sorted out, the sooner we can settle down and get going."

Quirks of scheduling mean Pulis has not sat in the away dugout at his former club in more than two years since he left, despite managing both Crystal Palace and Albion in the Premier League.

So Kemp is predicting a warm welcome back from the home fans tomorrow for their former manager.

"I certainly hope so," said Kemp. "What Tony did there was fantastic and I'm sure the fans there appreciate it and will respect him.

"It will be strange. We have played against them twice since we left there but they were both home games – one here and one at Crystal Palace.

"This will be the first time we go back. It was a big part of both of our lives because we were there for a long time but time moves on, we're going back with West Brom and we'll be looking to get three points."

Pulis is waiting for news of Chris Brunt's fitness after the former Albion captain limped off with a hamstring injury during Tuesday's Capital One Cup game against Port Vale.

James Chester is his likely replacement at left-back while other players will have to dig deep after playing 120 minutes in midweek.

"It's not ideal but that's football in this day and age," said Kemp.

"We had the TV game on Sunday and then cup ties come around.

"We're not going to use that as an excuse. It's just the way football is now.

"We wanted to be in the competition and we picked a team that we thought could win the game.

"Some players are rustier than others and it's just a case of some needing playing time.

"Some of the new players have come in later than some of the other players and it's just not an ideal situation.

"If it was ideal everything would be in place and we would all start even.

"But we have to deal with it and we are."