Fans set for a cracker

Albion and Sunderland are seen as the two "hot" teams of the battle for Premiership football - the Baggies because of their capacity to produce the simply the best football in the division, Sunderland because of the momentum which has carried them into the heart of the contest.

And Black Cats manager Roy Keane saw enough on his Hawthorns visit on Tuesday night to declare a healthy regard for an Albion side which can boast just one defeat in its last 15 league games.

Keane admitted he was deeply impressed by what he saw from the Championship side in that epic duel with Middlesbrough and declared: "Albion played well and on another night they could easily have beaten Boro.

"They've got some very dangerous players, particularly up front. Sunderland fans know all about the danger of Kevin Phillips, a player who is a natural goalscorer.

"And he was rested on Tuesday night, which suggests they want him at his sharpest for the weekend.

"Then of course there's Diomansy Kamara whose goalscoring record speaks for itself.

"But we've been strong in defence in recent weeks and I'm expecting us to be strong again this weekend. We know we'll need to be at our best against Albion but, as I say, I've got confidence in my players."

Like Baggies boss Tony Mowbray, however, Keane knows this crunch time of the season is as much about nerve as it is ability. And he reckons his players will handle the pressure at The Hawthorns tomorrow.

He said: "I've been very pleased with the way my players have performed recently. They've shown great application and character and an appetite to win games. I think you saw that last weekend where they were still going for it in the 93rd minute against Derby County and got their rewards.

"When Liam Miller scored the winner in injury time, there were four of our players in their box.

"And I think that shows how committed the players are to getting results." A classic, full of tension but also attacking intent, could be in store then with Albion expected to revert to their more familiar 4-4-2 shape and the visitors hoping that a touch of Caribbean magic can make its presence felt in the English winter.

Dwight Yorke is expected to continue the Indian summer of his career in midfield while up front, Sunderland are reaping a handsome dividend from one of the surprise moves of the January transfer market - Keane's swoop for ex-Blues and Coventry striker Stern John.

"It is a fantastic time for myself and and the club and we're in a good position now," says the 30-year-old who, like Yorke, hails from Trinidad and Tobago and who opened his Sunderland account with two against Southend recently.

Dean Whitehead is set to return to the starting line-up but there is doubt over the fitness of striker Anthony Stokes and John is expected to partner in-form David Connolly up front.

By Martin Swain