Jordan Pickford has challenged his team-mates to replicate the passion in the stands in their performances on the pitch.
With the long-awaited return of the Premier League all but over, all eyes will be on Vicarage Road come 3pm on Saturday as the Black Cats look to plot their latest top-flight ascendancy.
Patrick van Aanholt scored the game’s only goal the last time the two teams met at the Stadium of Light in December, and young Pickford has now set his sights on a double scalp over the Hornets this term.
The Black Cats are, however, without a win in four games with their last success coming on the road at Crystal Palace in February.
But as the fixtures begin to rain in after just two games in March, Pickford is eyeing victories in Sunderland’s next back of fixtures with Watord, Leicester City and Manchester United all in the space of eight days.
“It is down to us to perform and to get the fans going,” he said.
“Being a Sunderland lad and knowing what the fans like we have got to make sure we give them as much as we can.
“It has got to be the best for them because when they are going they can be like an extra player for us.
“Every week away from home they sell out and they are fantastic – we have got to give them the energy, desire and work rate that they ask for.
“We have got three big games in the next week but we believe they are three winnable games.
“If we turn up on our day with the fans behind us we believe we can pick up wins and that has to be our aim now.”