Afternoon all. There was a time not so long ago when Manchester United vs. Arsenal would have been the biggest match of the Premier League weekend, but not on this occasion! In terms of survival, they do not come much more important than Sunderland vs. Leicester City at the Stadium of Light.

UPDATE! But, before we delve into the game on Wearside, there is a game going on at the St Mary's Stadium which has an impact on both of these sides. Aston Villa are being thrashed 5-1 by Southampton, which means that a win for either Sunderland or Leicester would see them leapfrog Tim Sherwood's men in the table.

Anyway, back to this encounter and the team news, starting with the home side...

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon; Jones, O'Shea, Coates, Van Aanholt; Bridcutt, Cattermole, Larsson; Wickham, Graham, Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Fletcher, Johnson, Reveillere, Giaccherini, Vergini, Buckley, Mannone

Dick Advocaat has been forced into making two changes from the side that claimed a vital win at Everton last time out. The injured Wes Brown and Jordi Gomez have dropped out of the squad, with captain John O'Shea and industrious midfielder Liam Bridcutt coming in to fill the void. Meanwhile, on the bench is Emanuele Giaccherini, who has been out of action since February with an ankle injury.

And now for the visitors...

LEICESTER XI: Schmeichel; Wasilewski, Huth, Morgan; Albrighton, Cambiasso, Mahrez, King, Schlupp; Ulloa, Vardy

LEICESTER SUBS: Schwarzer, De Laet, Konchesky, Drinkwater, Hammond, Wood, Kramaric

Unsurprisingly, Nigel Pearson has stuck with the 3-5-2 formation that has served him so well in recent weeks. There is just the one change to the team, with the injured Matty James being replaced in the heart of midfield by Andy King. Marc Albrighton and Jeff Schlupp are once again the two wing-backs, with the in-form Jamie Vardy taking his place up front.

STAYING UP? It looked bleak for Sunderland a couple of weeks ago, but all of a sudden, their fate is in their own hands. A win today, coupled with a Hull City defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur, would see the Black Cats pull off another unlikely survival act. However, on the flip side, if the Wearsiders were to lose and both Hull and rivals Newcastle United (away at QPR) win, they would be in the bottom three. It really is that close down the bottom.

As for Leicester, they are a point and a place better of than their hosts, meaning that a draw and a loss would be enough to secure Premier League football for another season. Pearson's men also have the best goal difference of all the teams around them

Of course, there was a stage only a few weeks ago when Leicester looked doomed. However, an unthinkable run of six wins from their last seven Premier League outings has made survival a real possibility.

Yet, despite that sequence of results, this week Pearson was quick to warn his players that the job has not been completed just yet.

"The game against Sunderland is a very important game but, in the context of the season, it remains very much a similar message. That is that we want it to be in our own hands, but this gives us another opportunity," he told reporters.

"Our efforts in this run have made it a more realistic possibility to stay up. I don't think I'll fall into the trap of going into any game thinking the job is done. That's not the case."

So, what has been behind the upturn in fortunes? Obviously, the whole team has played well, but the form of Vardy has been difficult to ignore. In his last eight games, the hard-working forward has scored three goals and made four assists. No doubt he will be hoping to add to those tallies today.

Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Advocaat has called on the fans to help his side get all three points:

"It's not only the final home game but a very crucial game against Leicester. Hopefully, not only the players, but our fans really realise how important this game is for everybody," he told the club's official website.

"They have to make a lot of noise because we really need it. Leicester are a very difficult team to beat and in that game we have to give more than 100% to get the result. There's only one result that we need and that's the three points."

UPDATE! More bad news down on the South Coast for Villa, who have conceded a sixth goal. It's been a bad day at the office for Sherwood and his players.

VIDEO PREVIEW! Right, we heard what the two managers had to say a few moments ago, so now it's the turn of Matt Law and Pascal Lemesre on the Sports Mole Sofa.

PREDICTION! The chaps had their say on the video below, so here's my stab at predicting the outcome. Leicester are in fine form, but Sunderland have also improved since Advocaat took charge. With a win potentially securing survival for both, there could be some nerves around. Let's go for a closely-fought 1-1 draw, with Vardy and Defoe scoring the goals.

The players are now filtering into the tunnel area at the Stadium of Light and will be with us very shortly. Not long now until this crucial Premier League game gets started.

KICKOFF! There's a fabulous atmosphere inside the ground as hosting Sunderland get the action underway.

Without testing Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal, it's been a positive start by Sunderland, who have got forward well in wide positions. There was an early shout for a penalty following a challenge by Huth on Wickham, but it came more from the fans than the players.

SAVE! And now Schmeichel has been called into action and he's more than up to it. Everybody is expecting Larsson to send over a cross with his free kick, but instead he goes for goal. The ball looks to be creeping inside the near post, but Leicester's Danish goalkeeper gets across in time to parry it to safety.

A great 60 seconds of football as Sunderland are forced to defend to deny Leicester. They then spring forward as Defoe releases Graham, who sees his shot deflected behind for a corner. It's been a good start to this match.

And after that drama, the game has hit a bit of a lull. Having said, Leicester have now come into the game and are enjoying regular stints in possession.

CHANCE! A sighter for Wickham as he tries his luck from 25 yards out, but his effort flies harmlessly wide of Schmeichel's goal.

CHANCES! Two big openings for Sunderland, both of which fall to Graham. The first sees his shot cleared, while his second effort is a half-volley from close range that is palmed away by Schmeichel. The home side are starting to pile on the pressure.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the afternoon goes to Sunderland midfielder Bridcutt, who receives the caution for clumsily clattering into Vardy.

UPDATE! Some bad news for these two sides because Newcastle United are winning 1-0 away at Queens Park Rangers. If it finishes like this, the Magpies will be on 39 points, with Sunderland and Leicester on 37 and 38 respectively.

CHANCE! Yet another opening for Sunderland, who need to start taking these. This time it's Graham that turns provider for Wickham, but the youngster cannot keep his shot down.

Up the other end, O'Shea is looking particularly shaky in the Sunderland defence. On a couple of occasions the ball has dropped on his head, but his clearances have been lacking distance, which is heaping pressure on to his team.

With five minutes of the first half to play, Sunderland are bound to ruing those missed chances. Consequently, the crowd have quietened down - they seem nervous now.

BOOKING! Sunderland are struggling to contend with Vardy's pace at present. Having seen Bridcutt booked earlier for a foul on the forward, Cattermole has received the same punishment for a late sliding challenge on the same player.

There will be one minute of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

There goes the whistle for the break and it's all level at the Stadium of Light. With Hull failing to beat Spurs currently, it's a result that neither side wants.

Advocaat is likely to be happy with what he has seen from his players, that is until they got into the area. After that, the final pass or shot has been poor, with Schmeichel in the Leicester goal having a routine afternoon so far. He may also be worried by the fact that both of his midfielders are on yellow cards - they cannot afford to go down to 10 men.

As for Leicester, they certainly grew into the contest. They've caused the odd problem, with the movement of Ulloa and Vardy keeping the Sunderland defence on their toes. As it stands, a win will secure their Premier League status, so there could be more attacking intent about their display after the restart.

MATCH ACTION! Before the second half gets underway, here's a shot of Wickham and Albrighton battling for possession.

RESTART! Leicester get a big second-half of Premier League football off and running.

CHANCE! Bright start by Leicester as Mahrez whips over a dangerous cross from the right. Ulloa flicks the ball goalwards, but it's turned behind by Van Aanholt. Then, from the resultant corner, Ulloa plants his header wide. That's just the start Pearson would have been looking for.

UPDATE! Big news coming from White Hart Lane as Spurs take the lead against Hull. If the scoreline stays that way in North London, the winner here would be guaranteed a place in the Premier League next season.

Another bright moment for Leicester as Mahrez springs forward with Vardy in support. He goes alone, though, with his shot being blocked. This game is like basketball right now - very end to end.

UPDATE! QPR have equalised against Newcastle, putting them back below Sunderland in the table. Any chance of a goal being scored in this game now?!

SUNDERLAND SUB: First change of the match for the home side as the booked Bridcutt is replaced by Adam Johnson.

UPDATE! There's been a second goal for Spurs against Hull, this time by former Sunderland loanee Danny Rose. The situation remains the same - a win for either side here will guarantee Premier League survival.

UPDATE! All the action seems to be elsewhere right now! QPR have battled back against Newcastle and now lead 2-1 thanks to Leroy Fer. Unsurprisingly, that scoreline has been greeted with big cheers at the Stadium of Light.

LEICESTER SUB: It's now Leicester's turn to make a change as Mahrez's number comes up. He's been replaced by Danny Drinkwater. Moments before that, King was booked for clattering in to Wickham.

SAVE! Positive stuff from Johnson as the Sunderland winger darts inside Cambiasso. Instead of crossing, he drills a shot goalwards, which forces Schmeichel to dive down and turn the ball behind for a corner. That's lifted the home supporters.

LEICESTER SUB: It's a second change of the contest for the away side as Kramaric replaces Ulloa up front.

BOOKING! Third caution of the game for Sunderland and on this occasion it's Larsson that gets his name taken by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul on Albrighton.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Another change for the Black Cats as Graham, who has been quiet in this second half, is replaced by Steven Fletcher.

Sunderland full-back Jones has just been receiving treatment for a thigh injury, but he's back on his feet and has returned to the action.

CHANCE! Almost an instant impact from Fletcher. Johnson's inswinging cross from the right picks out his fellow substitute, but his glancing header flies inches wide of the target. That certainly had Schmeichel more worried than he has been all afternoon.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Final change for Sunderland and it's Jones that is coming off - he's been unable to shake off that thigh injury. He's been replaced at right-back by Anthony Reveillere.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this game. Can one of these sides secure survival?

CHANCE! What a chance to win it for Kramaric! There's confusion in the Sunderland box between O'Shea and Pantilimon, but with the goal at his mercy, the Leicester substitute somehow fires wide!

There goes the final whistle and it means that Leicester are safe! What an achievement that is considering where they were just a few weeks ago. As for Sunderland, they need a point from tough trips to Arsenal and Chelsea to guarantee that they will be joining the Foxes in the top flight next term.

That is all we have time for from the Stadium of Light. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to stick with Sports Mole over the course of the evening for match reaction, analysis and player ratings. Until next time, goodbye.