The Black Cats can take a massive stride towards securing promotion tomorrow night if they beat Burnley at the Stadium of Light to pile the pressure on current leaders Birmingham and Derby in third place.

Victory for Keane's men and defeat for the Rams at Crystal Palace on Sunday would see Sunderland book their place in the top flight for next season, although the manager is not expecting things to be that straightforward.

He said: "I have always felt in my bones it would go to the last weekend.

"I have said that a few times over the last few months and the way things stand, I feel it will go to the last weekend no matter what happens this weekend.

"It is great for the neutral, but we are just delighted to be in with a chance.

"A few months ago, we knew we would have to go on a terrific run to get in the mix with the likes of Birmingham and Derby, and we have certainly done that."

The most optimistic of fans on Wearside had hoped to stage a promotion party this weekend, although their plans were dashed by their side's shock 3-1 defeat at Colchester last Saturday as Birmingham and Derby both won.

Keane blamed himself for not making tactical changes late in the game to secure a 1-1 draw at worst with Richard Garcia and Jamie Cureton taking full advantage by scoring in the last eight minutes to dent the Wearsiders' charge.

However, he is refusing to abandon the attacking style preached to him during his playing days by the likes of Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Asked if he was having to be more conservative in his approach, Keane said: "I do not think I have been, I just think maybe last Saturday I probably should have changed one or two things tactically.

"Having said that, the way we work with the players and the way we train and the way we play games, we are an attack-minded team.

"Hopefully, we never get away from that because I played for managers who were always wanting to go and win games and not necessarily settle for draws."

The defeat at Layer Road was Sunderland's first in 18 league games since the turn of the year.

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill, the Black Cats' assistant manager between 2002 and 2003, is not the only one at the Clarets to be making a return to the Stadium of Light as Steven Caldwell and Andy Gray also head back to the north-east.

"Caldwell has been very good. He was good at Sunderland as well. I hope for him and I hope for Andy they can go back and get the luck," said Cotterill.

"For them and me going back I want us to put up a good performance. I'm looking forward to going back up there.

"A few of the staff still work there that I like and I'm looking forward to seeing Roy again."

Midfielder James O'Connor is not fit after a clash of heads in the 3-2 win over West Brom on Monday so Chris McCann is likely to take his place.