Both Alan Pardew and Martin O'Neill have named arguably their strongest sides for the noon Tyne-Wear derby this afternoon.
Pardew selects the Senegalese strike pair of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse while Martin O'Neill, tasting the North East derby for the first time, makes just one change by bringing in Nicklas Bendtner for Jack Colback.
Magpies top scorer Ba will be hoping to avoid failing to find the net in three starts for the first time this season.
O'Neill will be delighted to be able to call upon top scorer Stephane Sessegnon despite potential jet-lag because of international representation with Benin earlier this week.
Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; R Taylor, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Ba, Cisse
Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson; Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner, McClean; Sessegnon, Bendtner
Pascal Lemesre
