Wolves forward Kevin Doyle is ready to make his comeback from knee ligament damage.
He has been sidelined for nearly two months since suffering the injury on international duty.
Sunderland
Doubtful: Cattermole (back)
Injured: Bramble, Campbell, Gordon, Meyler & Turner (all knee), Gyan (hamstring), Richardson (calf), Welbeck (hamstring)
Wolves
Injured: Edwards & Zubar (both back)
MATCH PREVIEW
Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator
If Wolves fans had been offered this scenario a few weeks back I think they would have snapped your hands off. One place and one point above that dreaded dotted line with two to play - their fate is in their own hands and that's all you can ask for.
Last week's home win over bitter rivals West Brom was absolutely crucial, now they must build on that against a Sunderland side who are still without a recognised striker.
These clubs have shared 15 goals, three penalties, two red cards and two own goals in their last three games
Their season can't end soon enough, winter dreams of a European spot destroyed by a run of nine defeats in 12 games. Once a fortress, the Stadium of Light has provided sweet pickings for recent visitors. Since New Year, only Wigan Athletic have gone away empty-handed.
However it's not a ground where Wolves have fared well over the years. In fact, their last win on Wearside was at Roker Park in September 1993 when Geoff Thomas was amongst their scorers.
If recent meetings are anything to go by it should be incident-packed. These clubs have shared 15 goals, three penalties, two red cards and two own goals in their last three games.
As a neutral I'd love it to follow that trend and produce a thriller but I'm sure Mick McCarthy would settle for a dour, scruffy 1-0 victory on his return to one of his former clubs. Three points from this one would be a huge step towards Premier League survival.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Sunderland have won their last four home matches against Wolves and are unbeaten in their last seven meetings on Wearside.
• Wolves are looking to complete the league double over Sunderland for the first time since 1980/81.
Sunderland
• Sunderland won a Premier League match in May for the first time since 2006 last weekend. They have accrued only 18 points from 21 Premier League matches in the month of May (W5, D3, L13).
• Nonetheless, they need only a draw to register their biggest top-flight points total for 10 years. They are also on course for their highest finish since coming seventh a decade ago.
• They have dropped 23 points from winning positions this season - only Aston Villa (26 points) have fared worse.
• The Black Cats have conceded 29 goals in their last 12 matches.
Wolves
• Wolves moved out of the relegation zone for the first time since the end of February by beating West Brom 3-1 last weekend.
• That victory ended a five-match winless run, in which they only picked up two points out of a possible 15.
• They have the worst away record in the division, earning a mere nine points from 18 matches.
• Mick McCarthy spent four seasons as manager of Sunderland, but only won two and lost 31 of his 37 Premier League matches in charge. He suffered relegation from the Premier League in 2003 and, after securing promotion in 2005, was sacked the following March with the club doomed to immediate relegation.
• Jody Craddock made 168 appearances for Sunderland between 1997 and 2003.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Sunderland
Gyan: 11 goals (10 league); Welbeck: 6 goals (6 league)
NB. Darren Bent scored 11 goals (8 league) for Sunderland before joining Aston Villa.
Wolves
Fletcher: 11 goals (9 league); Doyle: 8 goals (5 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Jones
Assistant referees: Stuart Burt & Andy Newbold
Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Sunderland (W2-1 v Bolton, a): Mignolet; Elmohamady, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson, Colback, Mensah, Malbranque (Muntari 82), Zenden, Sessegnon. Subs not used: Carson, Riveros, Knott, Noble, Adams, Lynch.
Wolves (W3-1 v West Brom, h): Hennessey; Foley, Craddock, Mancienne, Elokobi, Guedioura (Jarvis 74), Henry, O'Hara (Stearman 80), Hunt, Ward, Fletcher (Ebanks-Blake 84). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Berra, Vokes, Milijas.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport