Tony Brown
West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

Albion have made a good start, taking the game to Sunderland and trying to get the initiative early on.

Sunderland have kept three consecutive clean sheets away from home, but injuries have robbed them of key defensive players today.

Albion make breaks down both touchlines in the first couple of minutes and the visitors scramble clear.

Both sides in their traditional colours; Albion in blue and white stripes, Sunderland in red and white stripes.

It's the hosts who get us under way.

The teams are on their way out onto the field at The Hawthorns.

Kick-off is a couple of minutes away.

Okay Yokuslu comes into the West Bromwich Albion midfield in place of Nathaniel Chalobah - that's the only alteration from the starting XI that beat Blackpool in midweek.

Sunderland are forced into a change in defence, with centre-back Danny Batth - who would have been sure to get a frosty reception at The Hawthorns as a former Wolves captain - ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

You can find the full line-ups by clicking on the "Line-ups" tab, or on the right side of the page if you are viewing this page on a desktop device.

Sunderland, who went up via the League One play-offs last season, find themselves in the mix for promotion once more this term after a fine first campaign back at Championship level.

The Black Cats follow today's game with fixtures at home to Watford and away at Preston.

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle: "We've done alright away from home over recent weeks and months, and we shouldn't fear going to The Hawthorns.

"We should go there and bring our best game. If we bring our best game, we'll give them more than a good game."

Image source, Getty Images

Albion head coach Carlos Corberan certainly knows the importance of having the fans behind him and his team.

In the wake of their latest relegation from the Premier League, for much of the reigns of Corberan's two immediate predecessors, Valerien Ismael and Steve Bruce, The Hawthorns had become understandably hushed, lacking in the noisy, intimidating atmosphere that has so often made Baggies fans boing and bounce - and which has intimidated away teams in the past.

But Albion's form - and certainly their results - has generally improved since Corberan took charge in October, the fans have responded and he knows that this is a day all about proclaiming, not protesting.

"This type of atmosphere is what every player dreams of playing in," said Corberan. "They want to help the team win the football game and, when they create this, it's very difficult to play against."

And he is right behind the decision by Action For Albion, the supporters' group who have funnelled this season's protesting, to "press the pause button" on their anti-board lobbying.

"It's fantastic," said Corberan. "They love the club. They fight for the club. Now, they understand that the fight is on the pitch. It's exactly what we want and what we need."

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

Image source, Rex Features

To spice today's game up a little further, Sunderland are managed by Tony Mowbray, still a very popular figure at West Bromwich Albion having been the last actual "manager" to lead Albion to the top flight in 2008. That was prior to the club changing the job description to "head coach", which is how Roberto di Matteo and Slaven Bilic were billed when they both took the Baggies up.

And lunchtime kick-offs can so often be lacking in atmosphere. So, more than ever, the one thing Albion's fans know is that they really need to be all together at High Noon, unified as one, to try to shout their team home.

After a season of protests aimed at Albion chairman Guochuan Lai and his now infamous still unreturned £5m club loan, a cause which has united all the various supporter factions, this is the day when the worried fans halt the marches and drop the banners - and instead don their scarves and hats and sing in one voice.

It should be remembered that this is not all about Albion. Sunderland have their own loud band of loyal away fans, who have had plenty of cause down the years to publicly challenge how their own club is run.

But The Hawthorns has today been designated a "Place of Worship". And the congregation have been asked to show their faith by turning the songbook open to Psalm 23, to belt out their long customary 'The Lord's My Shepherd', the Albion anthem.

There is even talk of The Liquidator making a return. Long since banned at both The Hawthorns and Molineux, where supporters of both rival clubs long ago added their own words to the iconic 1969 Harry J All Stars instrumental ska classic, but still hugely popular, a rabble rouser if ever there was one. And often turned to in times of need...

Luton and Middlesbrough are already guaranteed at least a play-off place, but as for the others? Well, it's a toss of several coins.

Albion will move level on points with fifth-placed Coventry if they win today, while Sunderland will go sixth if they win. A draw would leave both in an increasingly congested pack.

Image source, PA Media

While Sir Mo Farah and thousands of others race around the streets of London this morning, the Championship marathon is coming towards its conclusion.

And, as it enters its final mile, the sprint for play-off places is wide open.

West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland are among a host of teams still in with a chance of a top-six finish, so the outcome of today's meeting at The Hawthorns will prove pivotal for both sides.