Sunderland manager Gus Poyet seemed to have sentenced his own side to relegation after a 5-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on April 7 left the Black Cats seven points from safety.
However, they have since pulled off the "miracle" that he knew was required to keep them up, with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in midweek clinching their survival.
It was Sunderland's fourth successive win during a run which has seen them pick up more points than everyone but prospective champions Manchester City, and they could yet finish 12th in the table.
Victory at the Stadium of Light on Sunday would see the Wearsiders leapfrog opponents Swansea City, and possibly West Ham United, who are the only team standing between the Citizens and the title.
The Swans are another side who flirted with the drop at one stage this season, but they too finished the campaign strongly to secure a fourth straight year in the top flight, and they are already planning for it.
Garry Monk has shown enough during his interim spell at the helm to persuade the club's board that he is worthy of a three-year contract to manage the Liberty Stadium outfit on a permanent basis.
The 34-year-old has won four, drawn four and lost eight of his 16 games in charge across all competitions, with the most recent of those defeats coming last weekend courtesy of a bizarre late goal for Southampton.
With Michu and Angel Rangel doubts due to ankle and groin problems respectively, Monk could name the same side that was beaten in stoppage time by the Saints, with Wilfried Bony leading the line.
The Ivorian striker has scored six goals in eight games to take his tally in his debut campaign in England to 15, and already several clubs, including Everton, are looking to lure him away from Wales.
Sunderland themselves have one of the division's in-form strikers in their ranks, with Connor Wickham netting five times in as many matches to act as the catalyst in their climb away from the bottom three.
The serial loanee is expected to retain his place up front alongside Fabio Borini, who will play the last game of his temporary spell from Liverpool, but Poyet could make changes in other areas of the field.
Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson both have knocks and, with survival already secured, are unlikely to be risked. Liam Bridcutt and Craig Gardner could be recalled to replace them in midfield, while there may also be starts for flexible full-back Phil Bardsley and goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Steven Fletcher, Ki Sung-Yueng, Carlos Cuellar and Keiren Westwood are all missing as the Black Cats look to close an eventful season, in which they have also reached a domestic cup final, with a flourish.
Recent form
Sunderland: WWWWDL
Swansea: LWWLLW
Possible starting lineups
Sunderland: Ustari; Bardsley, Brown, O'Shea, Alonso; Colback Bridcutt, Gardner; Johnson, Borini, Wickham
Swansea: Vorm; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Britton, Shelvey; Routledge, De Guzman, Hernandez, Bony
Sports Mole says: 2-2
Joe Fish
