Sunderland (from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, McShane, Evans, Higginbotham, Harte, Whitehead, Reid, Leadbitter, Edwards, Miller, Richardson, O'Donovan, Jones, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Chopra, Prica.

Carlos Edwards could return to the Sunderland squad for after playing 60 minutes for the reserves in midweek He has recovered from his broken leg, and could be included in the senior squad for the first time since suffering the fracture against Derby on December 1. However, midfielder Dickson Etuhu is likely to be sidelined again with a knee problem, while Anthony Stokes has not trained all week because of a virus.

Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, A Cole, Bridge, Carvalho, Ben-Haim, Alex, Terry, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Pizarro, Drogba, Shevchenko, Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Obi, Anelka, Sidwell, Ballack.

Chelsea coach Avram Grant has just one injury problem ahead of their clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Goalkeeper Petr Cech remains sidelined by an ankle injury sustained in training and Italian Carlo Cudicini is set to continue in his absence. The Israeli coach must decide whether to recall striker Didier Drogba to the starting line-up after leaving him on the bench for the 6-1 midweek victory over Derby.