Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole has claimed that a run in the League Cup will give the squad more confidence in the Premier League.
The Black Cats play host to Chelsea tonight with a place in the semi-finals awaiting the winner.
Cattermole believes that progress in the competition could give the team a boost as they look to get away from the bottom of the Premier League table.
"It'll be a tough game but a good night for the fans, quarter-finals of the cup – the aim is to get in the next round," he told the club's official website.
"It's a good night – if we can go through it's only going to give us more confidence."
Sunderland were narrowly beaten 4-3 at home by Chelsea when the teams met in the Premier League at the start of the month.
