Marquee Matchup: Sunderland has to avoid defeat at Norwich

Sunderland is in deep trouble, and a loss at Norwich City could leave the club steeped in the relegation mire.

There is scant consolation taken from the fact that hated rival Newcastle United is having a tougher time in its bid for survival, as the Black Cats need to paw away the Canaries on Saturday. Alex Neil's outfit taking three points from the fixture would be damaging for both Northeast clubs, as their games in hand aren't the easiest: Sunderland welcomes Arsenal to the Stadium of Light, while Newcastle travels to Liverpool.

Sunderland's website's claims that "world football will have its sights firmly set" on the Premier League's weekend curtain-raiser might be a bit of a stretch, but it's a match that will undoubtedly have a huge bearing on the final standings.

Injuries and suspensions

Despite being carried off in last week's loss at Palace, there is hope Timm Klose will pass a late fitness test Saturday. After a shaky start, the Swiss has proven a reliable figure at the back. Defensive colleague Russell Martin is set to return after missing the previous outing.

Sam Allardyce could boast a clean bill of health for the Canaries' clash. Exciting youngster Duncan Watmore hasn't featured since early February, but could return after overcoming an ankle ligament injury.

Projected lineups

Norwich starting XI: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Klose, Olsson; Jarvis, Howson, O'Neil, Brady; Naismith, Mbokani

Sunderland starting XI: Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, O'Shea, Van Aanholt; Borini, Cattermole, Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Khazri; Defoe

What to watch

The defensive turnaround at Norwich has been superb. After a loose-looking backline conceded 21 goals over seven matches, Neil tightened the drawstrings and fielded a narrower back four. Over the next seven games, Norwich allowed a third of that amount, marking a fine tactical tweak by the Scot.

The Palace defeat was a setback, though, and one supporters in Norfolk hope will not deal a blow to the renewed confidence shown by those in yellow and green. Instead, a performance that harks back to the second match of the season would be ideal, when Norwich won on Tyneside by a 3-1 scoreline.

On that day, goals came courtesy of two defenders and a winger - and that's no coincidence. Steven Naismith adds some much-needed grit to the attack, but in Dieumerci Mbokani, Cameron Jerome, and Patrick Bamford, Neil has an attack at his disposal that's not entirely graceful and certainly not prolific.

Things have looked a little more organised at the back for Sunderland, too. Right-back DeAndre Yedlin suddenly thinks he can defend, Lamine Kone is a fine physical presence in the middle, and Jan Kirchhoff has provided a helpful extra line behind a midfield four and in front of the defence.

Last week against Leicester, Allardyce could count his side as unlucky. A bodged opportunity when 1-0 down from Jack Rodwell sticks out, but there were other chances the Black Cats couldn't tuck away. Once again, 33-year-old Jermain Defoe should spearhead the attack; he has a respectable 12 goals to his name and has to be selected up front ahead of the hapless Trabzonspor loanee Dame N'Doye, and Fabio Borini, with the Italian likely to be shunted to the right flank again.

Time is running out for the three placed 17th, 18th, and 19th, and only one will ply its trade in the top tier in 2016-17.