The Black Cats have not beaten their fierce rivals on home soil since Stan Cummins fired them to a 1-0 victory at Roker Park in April 1980.

They came close to ending a depressing run of results last season when on-loan defender Justin Hoyte put them ahead against the Magpies.

However, James Milner's fluke equaliser and a late Michael Chopra header which came back off the bar left them with just a point to show for their efforts on an afternoon when they felt their wait should finally have drawn to a close.

Tomorrow Newcastle will head for the Stadium of Light in turmoil behind the scenes and with an on-field revival in its infancy.

But Keane is not being taken in for one minute by their problems.

He said: "I am amazed that we could be favourites. We haven't won in 28 years against them, but we are favourites? Who came up with that?

"I don't think there are favourites in derby games. League form, whatever is going on with ownership, that won't interest the players or the supporters come kick-off, trust me.

"It's the team who wants it the most and who will handle it the better and who will take their chances."

That said, the chance to end a demoralising sequence of results in the biggest fixture of any season on Wearside is one the Irishman is determined to take.

His experience of the Wear-Tyne derby - tomorrow's game is the 140th competitive meeting between the two clubs and the 129th in the league - currently extends to just two encounters, last season's home draw and the 2-0 defeat at St James' Park in the reverse fixture.

Asked if the 28 years of hurt were a burden, Keane said: "For the supporters, yes, but in a sense whatever has gone on previously has nothing to do with me. I wasn't involved.

"We have a chance, myself and the staff and the players have a chance, to try to put that straight. That's what we are in the game for.

"It is a long time, but that's what happens. Sometimes it happens at football clubs.

"Who would have said Liverpool would have gone 18, 19, 20 years without winning the league title? It happens. These records happen that you scratch your head at."

Tomorrow's game will see Keane go head-to-head with another former Republic of Ireland international and Nottingham Forest old boy in the shape of Magpies' interim boss Joe Kinnear.

The 61-year-old's appointment in the wake of Kevin Keegan's resignation was greeted with incredulity in certain quarters, but the Sunderland manager believes he has already answered his critics.

He said: "If you look at what Joe did, particularly at Wimbledon, if you did that now he would be seen as a genius.

"Joe knows his football, he has got vast experience. You have seen the benefits of people giving him a break over the last couple of games."

Keane will make a late decision on whether or not to include fit-again striker Kenwyne Jones in the squad following his return from a knee ligament injury for the reserves in midweek.

And Michael Chopra will hope for another chance to make his home-town club pay for the lack of chances they gave him before he made his agonising decision to leave.

He said: "If there is anybody at the football club who wants to play on Saturday, then it's me.

"I am desperate to play against the team that didn't treat me right, and I will be desperate to get a goal."