Some Tyne-Wear derby rivalries will be renewed when Grimsby Town take on Notts County at Meadow Lane on Saturday.
The Mariners head to Nottinghamshire within touching distance of the Play-Off places in League Two, sitting just outside the top seven on goal difference alone.
And with three consecutive wins under their belt, confidence will be sky high – but they face arguably their toughest test so far this season as they take on the Magpies, who sit joint-top with Luton Town.
There are plenty of familiar names to look out for in the County side, with the likes of ex-Manchester United midfielder Alan Smith and Kevin Nolan’s former Bolton team-mate Nicky Hunt vying for a place in the side.
But it’s up front where possibly the most intriguing battle of the game is likely to come.
Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi looks set to start up top for the hosts after scoring in his last two outings – including his vital equaliser against Luton at Kenilworth Road at the weekend.
And he’ll be coming up against a very familiar face in Town defender Danny Collins, whom he battled with during some ferocious outings during the Welshman’s time at Sunderland.
Amazingly, despite Ameobi spending 14 years at St James’ Park and Collins playing at the Stadium of Light for nearly five years, the pair only came up against each other twice in the derby.
Both occasions came during the 2008/09 season in the Premier League, with Sunderland getting the better of their fierce rivals during the first meeting at home.
The Black Cats took the lead when Djibril Cisse managed to get a boot on Steed Malbranque’s mis-hit shot.
But just ten minutes later, Ameobi made his impact on the game as he fired past Marton Fulop from Geremi’s cross from the left.
It was Collins who would get the last laugh though, as Kieran Richardson grabbed a 75th minute winner for the hosts to give Sunderland their first Tyne-Wear derby win in eight years.
The pair would meet again later in the season, and this time the two sides would have share the spoils at St James’ Park.
Cisse once again got on the score-sheet as he gave the visitors the lead just after half-an-hour.
But Ameobi earned the Magpies a point as he tucked the ball home from the penalty spot after 69 minutes following Malbranque’s trip on Steven Taylor.
It proved to be a tough season for both sides, with both being involved in a last-day fight against relegation.
But it was Collins’ Sunderland who managed to beat the drop, despite defeat to Chelsea on the final day, thanks to Hull’s loss to Manchester United and, crucially, Damien Duff’s, which saw Newcastle beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa and relegated to the Championship.
The now-Mariners defender will hope he can maintain his luck against Ameobi when the pair come up against each other once again on Saturday.
