Clint Hill rescued a point for Stoke as his late header ensured a 1-1 draw against play-off rivals Wolves at the Britannia Stadium.

Wolves looked to have secured the three points through Neill Collins' 61st-minute header but the Potters responded five minutes before the end through Hill.

The defender connected with a Liam Lawrence free-kick in the 85th minute to ensure the Potters remain a point ahead of Wolves in the Championship play-off race.

Stoke, meanwhile, may have seen the last of on-loan Senegalese midfielder Salif Diao, as the 29-year-old returns Liverpool next week.

Diao took his place at the heart of the Stoke midfield alongside Darel Russell after being rested during last Friday's 2-0 FA Cup win over Millwall and has been a revelation since joining from Liverpool in October.

Wolves received a huge boost when defender Gary Breen was deemed fit to start, despite sustaining an ankle injury in the cup clash with Oldham.

And the visitors were grateful of Breen's presence when the centre-back had to clear a menacing Mamady Sidibe cross after just two minutes.

There were no clear goalscoring opportunities until the 19th minute when Ricardo Fuller looked to have given the home side the lead, only for the woodwork to intervene.

Fuller's left-footed shot from the edge of the box had beaten goalkeeper Matt Murray but the post kept the ball out and the scores remained level.

Stoke were equally fortunate 10 minutes later when Michael Kightly's 18-yard shot hit the crossbar in what was the last real chance of the half.

Wolves were forced to change their line-up during the break when Jamie Clapham replaced the injured Jackie McNamara.

But the substitution did not alter Wolves' approach as they continued to stifle the three-man Stoke midfield.

Indeed, Wolves' 4-5-1 formation forced Stoke boss Tony Pulis into an early tactical substitution as the Potters introduced midfielder Peter Sweeney in the 53rd minute at the expense of striker Vincent Pericard.

Pulis was left to rue the change six minutes later when Wolves took the lead through Neill Collins.

The defender headed Michael McIndoe's inswinging corner beyond goalkeeper Steve Simonsen for his second league goal of the season.

Just as it looked as though the visitors would go home with maximum points, Stoke responded with an equaliser five minutes before the final whistle.

Lawrence's free-kick found Clint Hill inside the box and the defender gratefully headed into the bottom right corner of goal.

Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens (Wilkinson 72), Duberry,Higginbotham, Hill, Lawrence, Diao, Russell, Fuller, Sidibe,Pericard (Sweeney 55), Sweeney (Rooney 80).

Subs Not Used: Eustace, Brammer.

Booked: Sidibe, Hill, Fuller.

Goals: Hill 85.

Wolverhampton Murray, Little, Breen, Collins,McNamara (Clapham 46), Kightly, Olofinjana, Henry, Potter,McIndoe (Edwards 89), Craig Davies.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Johnson, Mark Davies.

Booked: Breen, Henry.

Goals: Collins 63.

Att: 15,882

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).