Black Cats head coach Lee Johnson says it's his job to relieve pressure from his attacking players.
The Sunderland boss is on the hunt for his second win in League On as the Wearsiders head to AFC Wimbledon.
The two sides are no strangers to one another having played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light last month. However, the Black Cats are expected to field a vastly different side from the fixture on home soil.
Johnson's side were in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak when the two sides last met and fielded a team of fringe players.
The 39-year-old is under no illusion how difficult the game will be. He said: "I expect a well drilled side. Against us it was very difficult to judge.
"We're working really hard and the lads are working really hard. I suppose I've got to be careful because my job for the team and the squad is to relieve the pressure and create the freedom element in their forward play.
"We certainly don't want to stifle that by putting undue pressure on the boys because they know that's there anyway when you're Sunderland in League One."
