The story of the day as Sunderland seal a play-off place and end their winless run at Plymouth Argyle

Our man Mark Donnelly has picked his team to face Plymouth Argyle - and wants to see THREE changes made...

CLICK HERE to see the team he would pick today.

How are we all feeling ahead of kick-off, then?

There’s no hiding from the fact that today is a big game for Sunderland - not only to seal a play-off spot, but to ensure they go into the end of season tournament with at least some momentum behind them.

It’ll be interesting to see what team Lee Johnson selects today. Will he revert to his favoured 4-3-3? Could we see some changes made with one eye on the play-offs? Or will that wait until next week?

There’ll be plenty to digest come 2pm, I’m sure!

And there are a couple of youngsters in the travelling squad - with Anthony Patterson and Oliver Younger both having made the journey to the South West.

It also looks as if Conor McLaughlin has indeed travelled.

And here’s how Sunderland line-up this afternoon: Burge; McLaughlin, Wright, O’Nien, Hume; Power, Scowen; Jones, Diamond, Gooch; Stewart

And on the bench: Maguire, O’Brien , Matthews, Leadbitter, McFadzean, Winchester, Younger

So where to start, eh?

No Charlie Wyke OR Aiden McGeady in the Sunderland team today as both miss out with niggles. McGeady has travelled to Plymouth, so here’s hoping the injury is nothing serious.

In brighter news, there’s a welcome return for Conor McLaughlin and Max Power pushes up into midfield.

We now know that Wyke is missing with a thigh problem, while McGeady is absent due to a broken nose and the foot swelling that ruled him out at Hull City.

Hopefully it’s nothing too long-term for either of the pair.

The hosts line-up with: Mike Cooper, Joe Edwards, Jerome Opoku, Kelland Watts, Ryan Law; Panutche Camara, Conor Grant, Tyrese Fornah, Danny Mayor; Ryan Hardie, Niall Ennis.

Substitutes: Luke McCormick, 14 Ben Reeves, Byron Moore, Klaidi Lolos, Luke Jephcott, Finley Craske, Ollie Tomlinson.

And of course, it’s the absences of McGeady and Wyke that are the key talking points.

We’re yet to see a great deal of Ross Stewart since he netted on his debut at Accrington Stanley - but he’s got a big opportunity to impress today in Charlie Wyke’s absence.

And Sunderland are continuing their preparations for today’s game.

We’re expecting the Black Cats to line-up in a 4-2-3-1 at Home Park - with Jones and Diamond out wide and Gooch playing just behind Stewart up top.

McLaughlin will play at right-back as expected, with the rest of the back four as you were.

And Sunderland have retreated to the dressing room ahead of kick-off in the South West.

Don’t forget, we’ll have live match updates right here - as well as analysis and insight from our team of writers.

Then post-match, we’ll have reaction from Lee Johnson and our report, ratings and more....