Sunderland have made two changes from the team that started the 2-1 defeat at Ipswich on Saturday. Jenson Seelt is in for the injured Aji Alese and Nazariy Rusyn comes in up front.

Sunderland XI: Patterson, Seelt, Ballard, O'Nien, Hume, Neil, Ekwah, Pritchard, Bellingham, Clarke, Rusyn.

Subs: Bishop, Pembele, Hemir, Burstow, Ba, Bennette, Aouchiche, Triantis, Rigg.

Hull City have made nine changes from the team that started the 2-1 defeat at Birmingham in their FA Cup third round replay but just two from the side that started the 2-1 league defeat by Norwich last Friday. Greg Docherty and Jason Lokilo retain their spots from midweek.

Hull City XI: Allsop, Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Jacob, Morton, Slater, Tufan, Docherty, Lokilo, Carvalho.

Subs: Ingram, McLoughlin, Sayyadmanesh, Sharp, Vaughan, Smith, Green, Sellars-Fleming, Ashbee.

Image source, Rex Features

It's not been a great start to the New Year for play-off hopefuls Hull City.

The Tigers have lost three and drawn one of their matches since the turn of the year and, albeit with a completely changed team, were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship strugglers Birmingham in midweek.

In an incredibly congested second tier table the Tigers could end the weekend in sixth or as low as 13th.

Hosts Sunderland aren't in an entirely different position, any kind of positive result would be enough to lift them back up to sixth tonight.

Fifteen minutes to kick off, let's crack on.