After the disappointing home defeat by Preston in the Cup, we Palace fans now have only the distant hope of making the play-offs to sustain the rest of our season.
Eagles boss Peter Taylor is expected to make sweeping changes from the line-up that started at the weekend.
The goalkeeping spot is wide open after Scott Flinders' error-strewn performance on Saturday, with Gabor Kiraly back at the club and Julian Speroni completely recovered from his injury.
Danny Granville and Garry Borrowdale are both fit again and available for selection, and in the middle new signing Paul Ifill could make his full debut.
Expect changes up front as well, after Clinton Morrison and James Scowcroft failed to capitalise on their recall to the first XI in the Cup.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane is expected to hand debuts to new signings Stern John and Danny Simpson, and is also hoping teenager Anthony Stokes will be fully recovered from injury. However, Kenny Cunningham, Stephen Wright and Graham Kavanagh will all miss out.
Probable Palace XI:
Speroni
Lawrence Ward Cort Granville
Ifill Hughes Fletcher McAnuff
Freedman Morrison