Sunderland and Luton Town meet in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final on Saturday evening as they continue their bid to earn promotion to the Premier League.

While the visitors have long secured their top-six spot, Sunderland required victory over Preston North End on the final day of the campaign to book their place in the end-of-season shake-up.

Match preview

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Although Sunderland have hovered around the top six for much of the season, they were outsiders to achieve that target when they lost four times in five matches in February and March.

Since then, however, the Black Cats have put together a run of four wins and five draws, a nine-game undefeated streak which proved enough to finish in sixth position.

Despite it taking a Millwall collapse versus Blackburn Rovers on the final day, Sunderland will feel that they deserve their place in the playoffs having posted a 3-0 triumph at Preston North End on the same afternoon.

Tony Mowbray's side travelled to Deepdale having collected 10 points from their previous four away games, but the manner of their ruthless second-half showing against Preston made a statement in itself.

Their home form requires work, though, with Sunderland drawing four of their last five encounters at the Stadium of Light, that run beginning with a 1-1 draw versus Luton on March 18.

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The Hatters were left ruing that stalemate, Sunderland equalising in the 86th minutes, and it led to Sheffield United moving further clear in second spot.

That said, Rob Edwards and his squad cannot be disappointed with failing to secure automatic promotion when it has taken a 14-match unbeaten run to still finish as many as 11 points adrift of the Blades.

Eight wins and six draws have been posted during that period, although Luton's intensity has understandably dropped since they guaranteed a home second leg in the playoffs.

Luton were much-changed as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Hull City last time out, and Edwards will expect his regular crop to return to the fold refreshed as they bid to achieve one of the most unlikely promotions to the Premier League.

Team News

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Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin have added to Sunderland's defensive issues, with Mowbray having more concern about the latter's ankle injury.

Mowbray has hinted of needing a physical presence against Luton's forwards, putting Joseph Anderson in contention for a first start of the season at centre-back and Luke O'Nien moving to left-back.

While the rest of the team may stay the same, Edouard Michut should be fit enough to start after illness restricted him to the substitutes' bench at Deepdale.

Meanwhile, Edwards will make sweeping changes to his Luton XI, reverting to much of the side which started at Blackburn on May 1.

Although Gabriel Osho got 45 minutes under his belt on the final day, the defender will likely drop to the bench, but Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Allan Campbell are pushing for a recall in midfield.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Gooch, Hume, Anderson, O'Nien; Neil, Ekwah; Roberts, Diallo, Clarke; Gelhardt

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Lockyer, Bradley, Bell; Drameh, Berry, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Doughty; Adebayo, Morris

We say: Sunderland 1-1 Luton Town

These two teams are no strangers to each other with the corresponding league fixture having taken place just a few weeks ago. With both clubs remaining unbeaten since then, do not be surprised to see the same scoreline, a low-scoring draw arguably suiting the two sides ahead of the reverse fixture.

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