Sunderland take on Wolves at Molineux (Sunday, KO 4pm) still chasing a top-ten finish in the Barclays Premier League.
The Black Cats must win and rely on other results going their way to sneak into the top half. They have won three out of their last five games.
Already-safe Wolves can finish as high as 14th with a win. They are currently in 16th position, having gained 35 points from 37 games.
TEAM NEWS
Who's in, who's out?
Lee Cattermole (shoulder), John Mensah (calf / hamstring), David Meyler (knee), Andy Reid (calf) and George McCartney (hamstring) will all miss out for Sunderland. Jack Colback comes into the squad.
Matt Jarvis should return for Wolves, who will be without Michael Kightly and Stephen Ward (both knee).
MATCH FACTS
Useful stats ahead of the game.
- Sunderland haven't lost to Wolves since February 1996 - a run of nine games.
- The Black Cats have drawn 1-1 on three of their last four visits to Molineux - the other being a 1-0 win in February 1998.
- Sunderland have won 48 of the meetings between the two clubs, with Wolves winning 37 and 30 ending in draws.
- Wolves have their poorest home scoring record in the division (11). However, their 21 home goals conceded ranks fourth amongst bottom-half clubs.
- Wolves would have a point-per-game record if they beat Sunderland.
- Sunderland will finish 10th on goal difference if they win and Stoke, Blackburn and Fulham all lose.
- Wolves have scored 30 goals in the league this season - the worst record in the division.
- Wolves have won the least number of home games in the Premier League this season (4). But their four away wins ranks joint best amongst bottom-half clubs.
- Their most common result is a 1-0 defeat, occurring in 16% of games.
- 78% of Wolves' home games feature less than 2.5 goals. They have failed to score in 56% of games at home.
KEY BATTLES
A look at the crucial head-to-heads.
MICHAEL TURNER v KEVIN DOYLE
A week after shutting out Wayne Rooney, Michael Turner faces another threat in Kevin Doyle.
Doyle is the fulcrum of Wolves' attack, playing creator and sniper in equal measure on his way to a tally of eight goals so far.
He can play with his back to goal as a hold-up man, or use his pace to run the channels before shooting with either foot.
The Irishman will provide a stiff test for Turner, who has been one of Steve Bruce's most consistent performers.
DARREN BENT v JODY CRADDOCK
Former Sunderland favourite Jody Craddock will tangle with the Black Cats' top scorer Darren Bent at Molineux.
Craddock has been in fine form this season and will be looking to show just why he was named as the club's Player of the Year.
Craddock, 34, was Wolves' top scorer for a spell and has shown he can operate against some of the best strikers the league has to offer.
Bent is still in contention for the Golden Boot - sitting two goals behind Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba - and that will no doubt give him extra motivation.
LORIK CANA v KARL HENRY
Combative midfielder Karl Henry has adjusted well to life in the Barclays Premier League with Wolves.
The Molineux skipper is effective at both ends of the field and can be considered the driving force in the five-man midfield often preferred by Mick McCarthy.
But he'll face an able opponent in Sunderland captain Lorik Cana.
The Albanian hardman will be briefed to make his mark in the middle of the park and hopefully prevent Henry from keeping play ticking over.
LAST TIME OUT
What happened the last time the two sides met?
Sunderland 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (Click here for match report)
Stadium of Light, 27th September 2009
Sunderland took all three points from a thrilling clash with Wolves at the Stadium of Light.
The hosts looked to cruising when Darren Bent scored from the penalty spot with only eight minutes gone after he was fouled by Segundo Castillo.
Kenwyne Jones made it two when he converted a penalty two minutes into the second half - Bent earning a post-match roasting from Steve Bruce for stepping aside for his team-mate to take the kick.
But Wolves turned the game on its head with two goals in six minutes.
First the visitors pulled one back when Andy Keogh's shot was saved by Craig Gordon only to strike the covering John Mensah and trickle agonisingly over the line.
Then Gordon was forced to handle a backpass to prevent an own goal, allowing Kevin Doyle to slam home the loose ball after the initial indirect free kick was blocked.
With the game wide open, Sunderland responded well and took the lead again through Jones, who powered forward before dispatching a rasping drive into the far corner of the goal.
Michael Turner's header put the Black Cats in cruise control, before Bent's late deflected effort - later attributed as an own goal by Michael Mancienne - rounded off the scoring.
BIG MATCH QUOTES
What are the key men saying ahead of the game?
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce: "I'm convinced we will show the right attitude and it's just as well because we'll need that against Mick. He's got a team together which mirrors him. There's no frills about them, and I don't mean that disrespectfully. They're hard-working and tough with an uncompromising energy about them."
Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon: "Molineux is a hard place to go. Their fans get behind them, it's a big pitch and a nice ground so I'll enjoy the experience."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "We've achieved what we wanted but we are playing 38 games not 36. Sunderland can get 10th and that would be a real feather in their cap. They'll be wanting to achieve that. And we want to finish on a good note. 38 points - a point a game - would be terrific."
Wolves defender Jody Craddock: "We all want to do better [than the 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth last weekend] against Sunderland and go out on a high. Every player wants to go out and win every game and to do that we need to produce a good performance. It's a good challenge for us and a good game to have."
THE GAFFER
A profile of Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.
Mick McCarthy has steered Wolves to safety in their first season back in the Barclays Premier League.
The former Sunderland chief has won eight league games with Wolves this season, good enough to stave off relegation after the Midlands side cantered to the Championship title last season.
Tough and uncompromising in his management style, McCarthy began his career on the touchline with Millwall prior to a spell in charge of the Eire national team.
He then took over as Sunderland boss in March 2003, replacing Howard Wilkinson, leaving the club in March 2006.
Four months later, McCarthy took up his current post at Wolves, promising Premier League football within three years.
He reached the play-offs in 2006-07 and then placed 7th the following season, but it was third time lucky for McCarthy as Wolves went up as champions last season. They haven't looked back since.
ONE TO WATCH
A look at Wolves' dangerman.
KEVIN DOYLE
Kevin Doyle has matured into a top-line Premier League striker by spearheading Wolves' attack this season.
Often deployed as the focal point of a 4-5-1 formation, the Irishman has responded with workmanlike displays full of threat as well as a return of eight goals.
Originally with Cork City - David Meyler's old club - Doyle joined Reading for around £80,000 in June 2005 and proved to be a huge hit at the Madjeski Stadium.
He helped the Royals into the Premier League and scored 56 times in 163 games prior to joining Wolves for a club-record fee of £6.5m fee last June.
Doyle, 26, scored his first goal for the Midlands club in the 2-1 win over Fulham, as well as scoring at the Stadium of Light as Wolves went down 5-2 in September.
MATCH COVERAGE
Where can you keep tabs on the game?
Live text updates from Molineux are available for free on safc.com, the club's official website.
The club's online multimedia service, SAFC TV, will be broadcasting online commentaries courtesy of BBC Newcastle and Real Radio.
SAFC TV are offering four months' FULL access for only £10! Click here to take advantage of this offer and sign up today.
iPhone and iPod Touch users can download the club's new App from the iTunes Store here to access live text commentary, team news and even LIVE streaming audio commentary directly from their device (extra subscription required for commentary).
Fans can also follow @SAFCOfficial on Twitter (www.twitter.com/SAFCOfficial) to access live updates every 10 minutes, plus goal-flashes.
