MANCHESTER, England - Roberto Mancini says he is not bothered if Manchester City is top of the Premier League table at Christmas - so long as it is there after the final game of the season on May 13.

City will head into the festive period at the top of the league for the first time in 82 years if it avoids defeat at home to in-form Stoke on Wednesday.

Only eight teams who have been top of the Premier League at Christmas have gone on to win the title, with the rest falling back in the second half of the season.

When it was pointed out to him that City could now be top at Christmas for the first time since 1929, Mancini (pictured) said: "We want to stay at the top for a long time, not only Christmas."

It would be a major surprise were City to be knocked off pole position on Wednesday.

Stoke has won its past four league games, but City, which has a two-point advantage over nearest challenger and reigning champion Manchester United, as well as a superior goal difference, has not lost a league game at home for more than a year.

"We need time to recover because it will be hard against Stoke," said City manager Mancini. "They are a strong team, who defend very well. It will not be an easy game."

Kolo Toure echoed Mancini's warning about Stoke but believes City is now showing its rivals it has the character and resolve to win the league.

"We want to fight for the championship and we are showing our credentials," said the defender, who marked his second league start since serving a six-month drugs ban by helping City beat his former club Arsenal 1-0 on Sunday.

"I am happy. I feel very fine in terms of form," said Toure. "I was desperate to play for Man City. We had a difficult game against an in-form Arsenal team, but we scored one goal and kept a clean sheet."

Meanwhile, Mancini has praised unsung hero Pablo Zabaleta for the Argentina international's outstanding contribution in the victory over Arsenal.

"Pablo is a very clever player," said Mancini. "He knew before the game it would be difficult. I told him if he played well against Theo Walcott we would probably win the game."

Jonathan Woodgate is set to start in the Stoke defense against City despite being substituted inside 20 minutes in the 2-1 win away to Wolves on Saturday.

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham center-back was quickly replaced by manager Tony Pulis after conceding a penalty and collecting an early booking.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was angry Woodgate was not sent off after conceding a penalty, but Pulis is set to include the player from the start in what is a rerun of last season's FA Cup final, which City edged 1-0.

"Woody understands," Pulis said of his early substitution. "He said it was the best decision of the game and I just felt it was the right thing to do. He could have got sent off. I just do what's best for this football club. Because he is a name and played for Real Madrid doesn't mean I'm not going to bring him off."

Agence France-Presse