Sunderland take on Plymouth Argyle this weekend looking to build on last weekend's draw with Middlesbrough.
The Black Cats have taken four points from their last two games with Stoke City and Boro, just one point outside of the play-off places ahead of a favourable run of games.
The Wearsiders take on four sides in the bottom half of the Championship and are presented with a real opportunity to mount a challenge on the top-six.
Heading into the tie, Michael Beale reiterated the need for balance across his starting XI, explaining the reasoning behind Leo Hjelde's inclusion at left-back, with Jenson Seelt dropping to the bench at Boro last weekend.
"I think balance is really important to any team," Beale said ahead of the game. "You posed me the question there, what if teams come and sit in, well balance is really important. That you can go round and hit crosses.
"I thought he helped us and played well for a number of games but it's fair to say Trai is a better right-back, only by ten per cent, but certainly a better right-back than left-back, in my opinion.
"There's going to be a couple of suspensions in the post with centre-backs and it's important that Jenson will get an opportunity in there and show us what he can do. I've been delighted with him to be honest. I was delighted with Leo last week so that's a good place for us to be in.
"We had 18 outfield fit players today, so that’s the squad at the weekend, isn’t it? That’s how tight we are on the group. Caden Kelly came into the group last week because he’d been doing particularly well in the B-team – there’s other players who are itching to come up for an opportunity as well.
"We have got three games in the next week but so has everybody else, so it’s not like we’re playing teams who are fresh – everybody has got it. It’s an exciting time for our young squad. There’s a big opportunity for us. Let’s just take them one game at a time.
"But if I’m someone who is not in the starting line-up, I need to be pushing the guys who are. Having Paddy back, and Romaine, it gives us a little bit more in the final third as well. Mason and Nazariy have scored in the last couple of games, Semedo scored for the B-team in the week and Adil got an assist so, in that sense, the people are pushing each other."
We Are Sunderland has had a go at predicting Michael Beale's starting XI for this weekend.
Matty Hewitt
To give credit where credit is due, there's been an improvement in Sunderland's performances on the back of their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Hull City. So with that in mind, there's very little that needs changing.
The one obvious change will be Nazariy Rusyn in for Mason Burstow. The Ukrainian helped changed the game against Boro when he came on, scoring the all important equaliser.
There's been plenty of clamour for consistency up front, but it's fair to say Rusyn looks the most complete of the Black Cats' forwards.
Leo Hjelde also impressed down on Teesside, and you'd expect him to keep his place in the side at left-back, as part of a back four with Dan Ballard, Luke O'Nien and Trai Hume.
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The midfield three picks itself, as does Jack Clarke out on that left-hand side of the pitch. However, Beale does face a decision on the opposite flank.
Does he bring Patrick Roberts into the side in place of Abdoullah Ba? The French youngster missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring against Boro, but has still been impressive in recent weeks.
I'd expect Ba to keep his place in the side given there's three games in a week.
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