Pulis - Begovic can be top dog teamStoke poised to sign keeper James
Stoke are on the verge of clinching the signing of Portsmouth and England goalkeeper David James.
The 39-year-old has struggled for regular first-team football this season after picking up a calf injury but is now fit to play.
"We're hoping it'll be tied up for the weekend, but it will have to be right for us," said Stoke boss Tony Pulis.
James is eager to prove his fitness to England boss Fabio Capello ahead of the World Cup in the summer.
The former Liverpool and West Ham keeper has played 141 times for Portsmouth, and won the FA Cup with the club in 2008. But he has figured only 12 times this season, with Asmir Begovic keeping him out of the side in recent weeks.
And with his England place coming increasingly under threat from Birmingham's in-form keeper Joe Hart and West Ham's Robert Green, James will hope to get a run of games in the Premier League.
"We'll have to see if the two clubs can come to a deal," said Pulis, who hopes to have James available for Saturday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.
As things stand, James will have stiff competition for the number one jersey at Stoke, with Thomas Sorensen established as first choice at the Britannia Stadium.
But media reports have linked Sorenson with a move to German giants Bayern Munich.
"We've heard the rumours that there are clubs in Europe who fancy Thomas, and it makes it more important that we cover ourselves," said Pulis.
"If Bayern Munich, Manchester United or Chelsea come in for Thomas, he would want to better himself like everybody else does, just like (Cristiano) Ronaldo wanted to go to Real Madrid.
"But it (goalkeepers) is a fragile area. Hopefully we're covering it by bringing in David."