After naming much-changed line-ups for the two EFL Trophy games during the international break, Lee Johnson reverted back to a more experienced line-up at Gillingham.
But there were still three changes to the side that started the 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth in the Black Cats' last league game.
Dan Neil came back into the side in midfield in place of the injured Corry Evans, while Alex Pritchard came in for the injured Leon Dajaku.
The third change saw Callum Doyle return to the starting XI, and he replaced Bailey Wright in central defence.
Denver Hume was included on the bench for the first time in the league this season after being eased back into action in the Trophy games against Lincoln City and Manchester United U21.
Aside from goalkeeper Lee Burge, Hume, and Wright, Sunderland's injury problems saw Johnson call upon on some of the youngsters who had impressed in the Trophy games to fill the bench.
Striker Will Harris, defender Ollie Younger, and midfielders Harrison Sohna and Stephen Wearne were included amongst the subs.
Gillingham boss Steve Evans made four changes from his side's last league game, which ended in a 2-0 defeat at Wycombe.
In came Ryan Jackson, Rhys Bennett, Stuart O'Keefe, and Mustapha Carayol, in place of David Tutonda, Alex MacDonald, Daniel Adshead, and John Akinde.
You can follow all the action from the Stadium of Light in our live blog here.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Hoffmann, Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle, Cirkin, O'Nien, Neil, Embleton, Pritchard, O'Brien, Stewart
Subs: Burge, Wright, Hume, Harris, Sohna, Wearne, Younger
Gillingham: Cumming, Jackson, Tucker, Ehmer, McKenzie, Bennett, Lloyd, Dempsey, O'Keefe, Carayol, Oliver
Subs: Chapman, Adshead, Lee, Reeves, Akinde, Sithole, Kelman
