First up it's Claudio Ranieri: "It's important to think about Bolton and not look at Newcastle. It's better for us to see Everton and Liverpool behind us because they're very dangerous. We're ready for the run-in and I hope we have a good Easter period this year. This is the true moment for us.

"We have the will, the motivation and the character. My players have shown good motivation in training this week and it's important to show it again tomorrow.

"We have some champions but Bolton also have some champions. They're a dangerous team and while we've taken 12 points from our last six games, they've taken 11.

"They've won their last three matches and are very dangerous and have very good players. I remember the match at Bolton earlier this season when we only drew 1-1 after a goal in the 90th minute from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.''

Bolo Zenden, a possible starter tomorrow, said "Sunderland showed there are no easy games and we will find it just as tough against Bolton. But with our Champions League aspirations, what more motivation will we need? We'll have to be at the top of our game because Bolton have really improved as a team and are playing very well.''

As far as our team news, we will be without Jesper Gronkjaer and Mario Stanic who are still missing with the knocks picked up on international duty. Jody Morris is also out.

But better news is that Eidur Gudjohnsen, Celestine Babayaro and Manu Petit are all fit again, although Petit seems the most likely to start with our continuing problems in midfield.