Premier League Match-Day 37 Sunderland vs Leicester City

 Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has warned his side they still have much work to do to ensure their Barclays Premier League survival, with a trip to Sunderland next up on Saturday.

Last weekend's 2-0 win over Southampton left Leicester three points clear of the relegation zone following a run of six wins in seven top-flight matches. Sunderland, meanwhile, are a point worse off than Leicester with a match in hand and Pearson is quick to stress the King Power Stadium outfit cannot afford to take their foot of the gas in their remaining pair of fixtures.

"The two games are ones that we have to get the right result for us," he said. "The game against Sunderland is a very important game but, in the context of the season, it remains very much a similar message.

"That is that we want it to be in our own hands, but this gives us another opportunity. Our efforts in this run have made it a more realistic possibility to stay up. I don't think I'll fall into the trap of going into any game thinking the job is done. That's not the case."

Midfielder Matty James was ruled out for up to nine months with a knee injury on Thursday but Pearson will welcome back Andy King from a calf problem.

He added: "We've got a fit squad to choose from and we've had that for the vast majority of the season."

Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat is under no illusions as to the magnitude of Saturday's fixture, with daunting trips to Arsenal and Chelsea to follow, although a 2-0 win at Everton last weekend should boost morale on Wearside.

"This is a champion's game and if we do it well the club can start thinking on a brighter future," he told the club's official website. "It is a great club with a great stadium and great facilities, so you can see that the club deserves more than to be at the bottom.

"Both home and away the supporters have been really good and they've stood behind the team, but on Saturday they have to give everything. It gives every player extra energy when they hear the noise of the crowd and we need to make it [the atmosphere] special in this game."

Advocaat has been hit by inujries to Jordi Gomez and Wes Brown both of whom are set to miss Sunderland's remaining fixtures through injury. Gomez suffered a suspected fractured kneecap in training while Brown is also expected to be out with a knee problem, while midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is not fit for Saturday.

"We have some problems," said Advocaat. "Jordi Gomez, Jack Rodwell and Wes Brown will not be involved. John O'Shea is back and so is our Italian friend, Emanuele Giaccherini. O'Shea trained on Thursday and Friday but Wes gave so much last weekend that he needs a little break.

"He has some problems with his knee and we don't know exactly how long it will take, but Jordi will be out for at least six weeks so both are probably out for the season."

Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Brown, Coates, Jones, O'Shea, Reveillere, Van Aanholt, Vergini, Bridcutt, Buckley, Cattermole, Gomez, Johnson, Larsson, Rodwell, Defoe, Fletcher, Graham , Wickham.

Leicester City (from): Hamer, Schmeichel, Schwarzer, De Laet, Huth, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan, Simpson, Upson, Wasilewski, Albrighton, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Hammond, King, Knockaert, Mahrez, Schlupp, Kramaric, Lawrence, Nugent, Ulloa, Vardy, Wood.

Match Appointments
Referee: Martin Atkinson Assistants: M Mullarkey, S Child Fourth Official: C Foy

Match Facts
Sunderland have won four and lost none of their last six Barclays Premier League meetings with Leicester City, keeping a clean sheet in their last two.
The Black Cats have been victorious in their last two league encounters. They have not won three in a row since May 2014 when they embarked upon a four-match winning streak to avoid relegation.
Leicester have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches, more than they recorded in their previous 19 in the competition (three).
Only Paris Saint-Germain (21), Borussia Monchengladbach, Real Madrid and Barcelona (all 19) in Europe's top five leagues have won more points from their last seven matches than Leicester (18).