Sam Allardyce returns to former club West Ham United with Sunderland on Saturday looking to build on the impressive win over Manchester United last time out.
The Black Cats are still in real danger of going down this season and it will not be easy on Saturday against a West Ham side fighting for a European finish.
West Ham
It was FA Cup fifth-round weekend last time out and West Ham are through to the quarter-finals for just the second time since their run to the memorable 2006 final against Liverpool thanks to a resounding come-from-behind 5-1 win at Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Dimitri Payet and Emmanuel Emenike both netted doubles at Ewood Park, and after the match Hammers boss Slaven Bilic compared the former to Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric.
Both sides finished the match with 10 men on Sunday, but West Ham have not lost Cheikhou Kouyate for an extended period after the Football Association overturned his straight red card, initially given for a professional foul.
Sunday's quarter-final draw gave West Ham hope that they might face lower-league Shrewsbury Town, but the League One side failed to cause an upset on Monday night, so Bilic's side face a trip to 11-time winners Manchester United in the last eight.
Last time out in the league Payet again played a key role as West Ham fought back from two goals down to earn a draw at lowly Norwich City, dropping to seventh behind Southampton on goal difference but still only a point behind Man Utd in fifth.
Frenchman Payet has now scored or assisted 12 Premier League goals this season (seven goals, five assists) - twice as many as any other West Ham player.
Despite their indifferent recent league form - Bilic's boys have won just one of their last five - three points against the Black Cats tomorrow would make it the Hammers' highest-ever haul of points after 27 Premier League games, beating the 42 they earned in 2005-06.
Recent Premier League form: WLDWLD
Recent form (all competitions): DWLWDW
Sunderland
While West Ham were in FA Cup action last weekend, Sunderland had a week off and one they perhaps would not have wanted given their impressive display against United on matchday 26 that may have given them some momentum.
It was a first win in five for Allardyce's men as January signing Wahbi Khazri inspired the Black Cats to victory with a goal and an assist. The Tunisian international also set one up in the previous week's draw at Liverpool so clearly enjoys the big occasion.
Sunderland are still 19th but now just one point behind Norwich outside the drop zone, and there is definite hope that the Wearside club can escape the drop which at one point felt inevitable.
Allardyce's side have collected almost double the points at home (15) than they have away from home and if you include the end of last season as well, Sunderland have won just two of their last 15 Premier League away games (W2 D3 L10).
They have also been conceding plenty on the road recently, letting in 27 goals in their last nine away games and keeping just one clean sheet in that time.
Off the field, the Adam Johnson trial continues and the ex-Black Cat said this week that some of his former teammates had "taken a step back" and decided against testifying in the trial after the 28-year-old admitted one count and sexual activity with a child and a further count of grooming. He denies two further charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old.
Recent form: WLDLDW
Team News
Emenike is pushing for a start after his brace against Blackburn, but Enner Valencia may return from an ankle injury after missing the trip to Ewood Park and lead the line.
Other strikers Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho are also closing in on returns but it would be a surprise to see either included from the start, while defender Winston Reid was also back in training this week.
Manuel Lanzini made his comeback from the bench against Blackburn after a month-and-a-half out and could feature from the start against Sunderland.
Allardyce is unlikely to make many changes from the side that started two weeks ago against United, but he may be forced into one with Jan Kirchhoff struggling to get fit in time after going off injured against the Red Devils.
Jack Rodwell took his place and the Englishman could get the nod from the start.
West Ham possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble, Obiang; Antonio, Valencia, Payet
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Yedlin, O'Shea, Kone, Van Aanholt; Rodwell, Cattermole, M'Vila; Khazri, N'Doye; Defoe
Head To Head
The reverse fixture in October followed a similar pattern to West Ham's last league game against Norwich, with Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens putting Sunderland two up before West Ham fought back and earned a point thanks to Carl Jenkinson and Payet.
It extended West Ham's unbeaten run against Sunderland to five games and at home in East London, the Hammers have won seven and lost just one of their last 10 Premier League matches against the Black Cats.
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We say: West Ham 3-1 Sunderland
Sunderland's away record is poor and West Ham should not have a problem scoring against a side who leak goals on the road.
