Sunday 4 March, Sports Direct Arena, 12pm.
The Tyne-Wear derby hits our television screens this weekend and ahead of Sunday's mouth-watering clash, Edward Bretherton looks ahead to the game, and at how the sides have fared in recent spats in the North East.
It's barely 16 months since Kevin Nolan's hat-trick gave Toon an emphatic win at the formerly named St James' Park, something Sunderland fans will still be stricken from, despite their recent surge under Martin O'Neill.
Kevin Nolan became the first player to score a hat-trick in the fixture since Peter Beardsley in 1985.
Credit: here
It's safe to say that Sunderland are a different proposition now. They've lost only four of 16 games since O'Neill took to the helm against Blackburn, including all three games when they haven't scored, but recent victories over Arsenal and Stoke showed that the Black Cats are very much on the up. And don't forget, that's very much without a recognised striker, with Nicklas Bendtner warming the bench continually, and Fraizer Campbell having only just returned from injury. It's not O'Neill's team yet, but it has his values; hard working, hard to beat, energetic, passionate.
Passion is something the North East derby never lacks.
Phil Bardsley was sent off earlier in the season as tempers flared. It was Joey Barton's last game for the club.
Credit: here
Two red cards in the last three games, no fewer than sixteen yellow cards. Expect it to be spicy. Tasty. Nasty.
The Newcastle team itself is somewhat different to last years, who recorded their biggest victory against Sunderland since 1956.
Out have gone Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Jose Enrique, in have come Davide Santon, Yohann Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
All smiles at Newcastle. Ba and Cisse have the potential to form a frightful partnership.
Credit: here
Some turn-around and all credit goes to Alan Pardew for turning Newcastle into a European-pushing side again, despite losing some huge players.
And it's not just Alan Pardew who has a lot to shout about this season.
Demba Ba has been magnificent. 16 goals, half at home, and a free transfer too. Now that is shrewd business.
You do wonder how the Senegal striker will take to the action on Sunday, presumably alongside Cisse, in what will probably be their first action of the Tyne Wear derby, with Ba only making the bench in their victory at the Stadium of Light in August.
I don't think Ba knows what a bench is any more, and he doesn't have to.
I've seen Newcastle in person three times this season, and whilst Ba didn't score in the Carling Cup game at Ewood Park, he certainly showed Rovers a thing or two about finishing at St James' (as it was then called) at the start of the season, when he netted his first goals for the club, a hat trick.
It's not just his finishing that has to be admired. His movement is superb. He has that uncanny ability to make late runs, find space, and produce that clinical effort at the end of it. In that way, he reminds me of Michael Owen, in his prime, when he was scoring goals for fun at Liverpool in arguably a better team.
Not only that, his hold up play, ability to bring others into the game, and footballing brain has to be admired. It didn't happen for Senegal at the African Cup of Nations, but he did score on his return, against Aston Villa.
Alan Pardew seemed to suggest after the draw with Wolves that Demba Ba is vital in nurturing Cisse into the club, but you hope that the former Charlton boss has put his attentions into the right man.
Demba Ba is that good, and Newcastle found a steal, despite medical problems when they tried to sign him.
It's not just him that will cause Sunderland problems on Sunday, with Cisse having scored in both of his Newcastle home appearances so far. Some start to a career as a number nine in those illustrious parts.
Indeed, it's been 22 years, and 25 attempts since the Black Cats kept their neighbours out. Surely there will, again, be goals guaranteed on Sunday. You expect one of the Toon strikers might take their chance, if it comes.
Sunderland have only one win in this fixture in their last fourteen efforts, compared to Newcastle's eight but, take away last weekend's capitulation at West Brom, they haven't been conceding many goals neither.
I just feel that Martin O'Neill hasn't quite settled on their midfield yet, and arguably whether there is a place in the team for former captain Lee Cattermole. It seems a straight choice between him and former Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan at the moment, while Craig Garder's another one on the merry-go-round of playing or sitting on the bench.
One player who isn't is James McClean. I don't think anyone would have singled McClean as one to grace the Premier League at the start of the season, but his pace and direct approach has caused all sorts of problems since he made his full debut against Blackburn at the stadium of Light.
James McClean has made a real impact since being given a chance in the Sunderland first team.
Credit; here
He's certainly won over the fans with his four goals in only fifteen appearances, while Stephane Sessegnon continues to shine in what is a free role given to him by Martin O'Neill.
It seems the Africans are thriving in the Premier League. Who knows, maybe Asamoah Gyan might be welcome back now after a change in management at the side he left on loan. Perhaps he could teach Ba and Cisse a few dances...
Let's hope for an entertaining game, but I'm heading to the SDA thinking Newcastle will grind out a 2-1 win, a nerve wracking win, but one where they'll have the chance to prove themselves after throwing away a two goal lead last weekend. It won't be easy, and Sunderland might sneak a draw. But that's the drama of football.
