EPL Preview: Sunderland Vs Hull City

EPL Preview: Sunderland Vs Hull City, Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Saturday 18th April 2009, 15:00 BST.

Two teams with distinctly poor form go head to head this afternoon with everything to play for, and everything to loose.

This is a definite 'six pointer' of a game with each team able to take a step closer to safety if they can produce a victory at the Stadium of Light.

The last time the two teams met it ended up a 4-1 to Sunderalnd at Hull City's KC Stadium, but the score did not tell the tale of the game.

In a game overshadowed by the poor officiating of Mike Riley and lucky goals. The victory for Sunderland got Ricky Sbragia's reign as the caretaker manager turned into the full time managers job after he had helped produce two wins out of three games since taking charge from Roy Keane.

The Black Cats will be happy to see the return of Kieran Richardson who scored in the 4-1 victory at the KC Stadium. Sbragia will also be pleased that first team skipper Dean Whitehead has returned to fitness along with Andy Reid.

Stead Malbranque will face a late fitness test but the Wearsiders will be without the services of George McCartney and David Healy who both remain sidelined.

The Tigers will have to reshuffle the pack yet again with influential Captain Ian Ashbee suspended for reaching ten yellow cards in last weeks loss to Sunderland's North East rivals Middlesbrough.

Phil Brown will also be waiting on the talents of Bernard Mendy and Daniel Cousin who both need late fitness tests to show if they are ready to play.

East Yorkshire;s finest will be happy to see the return of Kevin Kilbane to the team along with George Boateng who made a cameo appearance against his old club Middlesbrough off the bench last week.