David Moyes has backed his side to once again battle with the big boys as Sunderland prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats pushed Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea close before Christmas, with Jurgen Klopp’s side denied earlier this month as Moyes’ men came from behind on two occasions.
September’s reverse fixture saw Harry Kane score the only goal of a tense encounter, with Steven Pienaar spurning a guilt-edged chance to open the scoring on the stroke of halt-time.
And although Moyes expects Spurs to compete for the title, he urged his side to once again frustrate a team at the top.
"Against some of the bigger teams we've played quite well at times,” said the Scot. "It's a challenge and maybe we see it as a free hit.
“We have to win games that people aren't expecting us to win - we're in that position now.”
He continued: "Tottenham are playing really well; whoever they've played they've matched very well, if not bettered them.
"I don't think the Premier League is over by a long way; in this league you have to earn it, you have to keep winning and it can change very quickly for you.
"Tottenham are there or thereabouts and they don't look any less than the team that finished third last year, so I think they'll still be close this year.”