The former Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa boss ended more than a year out of the hotseat when he took over at the Stadium of Light last weekend following the sacking of Steve Bruce.

Sunderland could already be in the bottom three when they take to the pitch on Sunday depending on results elsewhere, but that will definitely be the case if they lose to Rovers, who currently sit one point and one place behind them.

That his team are at home will be of little comfort to O'Neill given they have picked up only 13 points on Wearside in 2011, while this season's tally of 16 goals in 14 games is another priority area for the new boss.

He said of his first week: "It's been particularly hectic. It's trying to get to know players, backroom staff, and they likewise with me. But the excitement is still there, obviously building up to Sunday's game, and I'm looking forward to it immensely.

"There has always seemed to be a good atmosphere around the place, I just think it's a little bit of confidence that has been lost.

"I really think it's key (getting that back) because when players lose a bit of confidence, it doesn't matter what ability they have, they don't shine in the same fashion. The best way to change that is by winning some football matches as soon as possible.

"We have to address the goalscoring situation, obviously, and as soon as possible. The backroom staff have been telling me that we have been creating chances in games but have been unable to put them away.

"It puts an awful lot of pressure then to try to keep a clean sheet, which is pretty difficult these days."

It was a surprise to many people that Bruce and not Blackburn's Steve Kean was the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season, but Rovers go into this game on the back of a much-needed win over Swansea last weekend.

Unlike Sunderland, they have had no problem scoring goals and, with Ayegbeni Yakubu looking to add to the four he managed last time out, O'Neill knows it will be a tough afternoon.

The Northern Irishman said: "I'm expecting a real physical battle. We have to withstand the sort of pressure we know we're going to be put under.

"Our job is to cause them as many problems as possible and galvanise ourselves, and in so doing get the crowd behind us.

"It is really important game for both teams. At this stage of the season I suppose you could say the proverbial six-pointer. The league is so unforgiving. You can't afford to keep losing matches and that is something we have to address.

"Blackburn have been playing pretty well and haven't had the results to go with it. Now they're on a run, it was a great win for them last week, so they'll come here with plenty of confidence."

O'Neill also has injury problems to deal with and striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and defender Phil Bardsley (ankle) are both struggling to be fit for Sunday while midfielder Lee Cattermole is suspended.

With the busy festive fixture list coming up, the new boss expects to make changes, but he insisted there would be no radical departure from the team under Bruce.

"In the normal course of events you wouldn't want to be experimenting, with the games coming up thick and fast, but with injuries and suspensions we're probably going to have to use a few players," he said.

"There will be changes in the team but they will probably be natural more than anything else."