Sunderland will be hoping to earn a place in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup for the third time in four seasons when they host Burnley on Saturday (KO 3pm).
Last season the Lads exited the competition after just one game, but they do so with their heads held high as two-time holders Arsenal fought back from 1-0 down to seal a 3-1 win at the Emirates.
And, prior to last season’s third round exit, the Black Cats had reached the sixth round in 2014 and the fifth round in 2015.
The Black Cats have, of course, won the famous cup on two occasions in 1937 and 1973.
Bobby Gurney, Raich Carter and Eddie Burbanks were the heroes in Sunderland’s first FA Cup win, with the Lads coming from behind against Preston North End after Frank O’Donnell’s opener.
And who could forget the club’s 1973 success, as Ian Porterfield scored and Jimmy Montgomery starred against Leeds United in one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition.
Sunderland last reached the final in 1992 when they were beaten by Liverpool at Wembley, but there is FA Cup success within the current ranks.
Captain John O’Shea started the 2004 FA Cup final alongside former Black Cat Wes Brown as Cristiano Ronaldo netted and Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored a brace to down Millwall.
But he was on the losing side one year later as United lost 5-4 on penalties to Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium following a 0-0 draw after extra-time.
In 2007 – at the first final at the new Wembley – O’Shea came off the bench in extra-time, but he was again on the losing side as Didier Drogba struck in the 116th minute to seal a 1-0 win for Chelsea.
Steven Pienaar completed 90 minutes during the 2009 FA Cup final as Everton lost 2-1 to Chelsea, with former Black Cat Louis Saha scoring for David Moyes’ side.
Jack Rodwell was on the bench that day and in 2013 he played as Manchester City faced Wigan Athletic, but once again he was on the losing side as Ben Watson’s stoppage-time winner sealed an unlikely win for Roberto Martinez’s men.
Jermain Defoe played for Portsmouth during their 2007-08 FA Cup-winning season, but he was cup tied for Pompey after appearing for Tottenham Hotspur in the third and fourth rounds, prior to his January move to Fratton Park.
Defoe has 22 FA Cup goals in just 37 appearances.
Sunderland last met Burnley in the FA Cup in 1979 when the Clarets won a Roker Park replay 3-0 following an initial 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.
The Black Cats’ last win over Burnley in the FA Cup came in 1923, but in 12 meetings in the competition they’ve emerged victorious on five occasions and lost just three times.