Preview: Sunderland vs. Chelsea

Sunderland will aim to break another Chelsea unbeaten run when they welcome the Premier League leaders to the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening.

A 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge last season saw the Black Cats become the first team to inflict a home Premier League defeat on Jose Mourinho in 78 games.

This campaign, the Blues have gone 19 games with suffering defeat and this intimidating form has seen them open up a six-point lead at the top of the table.

The Londoners added Schalke 04 to their list of victims in midweek by hammering the Bundesliga club 5-0 in Germany to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Sunderland have been on the end of thrashings themselves this season, but have lost only once since they conceded eight to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium last month.

Victory at Crystal Palace and draws with Everton and Leicester City have seen Gus Poyet's side climb to 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone, ahead of their meeting with the Uruguayan's former club.

Poyet became a fan favourite during a four-year stint at Chelsea during which he scored 36 goals in 105 games.

Diego Costa is well on track to surpass that tally, having found the net 11 times in 10 top-flight starts. The Spanish international scored the first in the 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

He will have a chance to move clear of Manchester City's Sergio Aguero at the top of the division's scoring charts when he leads the Blues line on Wearside in front of Chelsea's usual attacking midfield trio.

Summer summer Cesc Fabregas has claimed this week to be playing the best football of his career and will continue alongside Nemanja Matic in midfield, with the back four and goalkeeper also unchanged.

Poyet too is unlikely to make many alterations to an improving side, but may bolster his midfield by bringing in Jack Rodwell, who has not started since the 2-0 loss to Arsenal, for the less industrious Jordi Gomez.

Former Blues left-back Patrick van Aanholt, who played just eight times in five years at the capital outfit, is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, while Emanuele Giaccherini, Billy Jones and Ricky Alvarez remain out.

Sunderland also beat Chelsea in the Capital One Cup last campaign, although neither goalscorer in that extra-time victory - Liverpool's Fabio Borini and Swansea City's Ki Sung-Yeung - is still at the club.

Sunderland:

Recent form: WLLWDD

Possible starting lineup: Pantilimon; Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, Reveillere; Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell; Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher

Chelsea:

Form in Premier League: WWDWWW Form in all competitions: WWDWWW

Possible starting lineup: Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Costa

Sports Mole says: 0-2