Q's reguarding no knead baking dish

Hi - hope someone has time for some quick questions from a newbie.

 I don't have a dutch oven or anything fancy for baking the no knead bread, but I do have an "oven safe" stoneware dish in my slow cooker.  Do you think it's safe to use?  Should I preheat it in the oven - will it crack at 500F?  Also, the lid is not oven safe, can I improvise a cover out of tin foil?  Thanks!