Phil Brown has labelled Saturday's home clash with Stoke City as the game of the season.

The Tigers go into the match at the KC Stadium knowing that victory would put them six points ahead of the relegation zone and pile the pressure on Newcastle and Middlesbrough, who face each other on Monday evening.

"It's the game of the season I suppose," said Brown.

"I asked for a big effort against Aston Villa on Monday night and I got that, albeit with a lack of quality to get the goal we required.

"It would have been nice to have come away with a point to affect the mentality and the spirit of our rivals.

"We've got another opportunity to do that on Saturday.

"I've spoken to Tony Pulis (Stoke manager) at length recently and he is still desperate for three more points to get over the 40-point mark.

"They certainly won't be lying down and it's going to be a physical game. We have to stand up against that physicality and then hopefully play a bit of football.

"It's a massive game for us, there's no doubt about it. It's probably as big as the Play-Off Final last year in terms of the level of importance.

"The bottom line is, we've got to do our business first and beating Stoke is no mean feat.

"But the most pleasing thing for me in the last two or three games is that we look as though we have got the drive and determination to stay in this division."