Jordan Willis returns to the Sunderland starting line-up after being passed fit to face Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
Willis, who missed the midweek win over Crewe with a bruised foot sustained at Swindon seven days ago, has recovered enough to take his place in the three-man defence again.
His return comes at the expense of Conor McLaughlin, with the Northern Ireland international asked to drop back down to the bench by manager Phil Parkinson.
Otherwise it is very much the same side that went out for Sunderland against Crewe, so the likelihood is that Luke O’Nien will continue to play at the back.
Lynden Gooch and Denver Hume, after impressing in midweek down the flanks with their direct play and crossing ability, seem set to start in the wing-back roles once again.
Tom Flanagan is also named on the bench again having shown no ill effects from training this week or the late appearance against Crewe as a substitute having sustained an ankle problem on international duty.
Promotion hopefuls Sunderland and Portsmouth are very familiar with each other having gone head-to-head on seven occasions in the last two seasons.
Sunderland AFC: Burge; Willis, Wright, O’Nien; Gooch, Leadbitter, Scowen, Power, Hume; Maguire, Wyke.
Subs: Matthews (gk), McLaughlin, Grigg, Graham, Flanagan, Dobson, O’Brien.
