On the field City will play Darren Williams after he completed a permanent move to South Wales. It's likely that Graham Kavanagh will start, most probably with Willie Boland in central midfield. Joe Ledley and Cameron Jerome both keep their places.
That means Ledley will move out left with Paul Parry missing out. It's reported today that Parry maybe struggling with a sore hip. I think he may have been the fall guy to allow Kavanagh straight back into the team anyway.
Jerome will keep the experienced Neil Harris out of the starting 11. Quite an acheivement for the youngster who only last week stated his first senior game. In 10 appearances inc subs he's scored 3 goals. Harris is on loan from Millwall, he played out the last 10 - 15 mins against Gillingham last week and he'll be keen to get onto the pitch to prove he can score goals.
Danny Gabbidon missed training yesterday with a sore foot.
As usual we'll not know the starting line up for sure until 2.45pm tomorrow but I expect it to something like
Warner, Williams, Collins, Gabbidon, Barker, McAnuff, Boland, Kavanagh, Ledley, Thorne, Jerome.
Subs from Alexander, Weston, Vidmar, Bullock, Parry, Harris and possibly Page and Campbell.
Sunderland will have Steve Caldwell in their side after his red card last week was rescinded. Carl Robinson is also fit to play. Julio Arca will face upto former team mate Williams. Missing for Sunderland will be Michael Bridges (achillies), Jeff Whitely (hamstring) and Darren Carter who has returned to Birmingham City.