Lee Johnson says the atmosphere in the Black Cats dressing room has been "steely" and "focused" ahead of the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final against Lincoln City.
Sunderland players were given some time off following the final game of the season against Northampton to rest and recuperate following a hectic season finale.
The Black Cats players have had to endure a physical and mental battle like no other this season.
Now, Johnson has lifted the lid on the dressing room atmosphere ahead of their biggest game of the season.
"It's good," he said. "I wouldn't say it's a party atmosphere. It's been quite focused - quite steely and pretty consistent.
"I think that's quite a good thing. Yes we want those high sensation seekers if you like, hopefully the play-offs and a sky game, will bring us.
"It's going to be very different even with 2,750 fans or whatever it is in the building. That'll probably feel like 15,000 compared to what we're used to.
"We're looking forward to it very much against a side who we believe are a good side.
"They've always been good games, every game that we've played against them this season."
Johnson has spoken on a number of occasions about hitting the reset button following the game against Northampton Town on the final day of the regular season.
Sunderland looked off the pace in the dead rubber tie, but the head coach believes the time off has done his side the world of good.
Johnson said: "It's been really good. (Rest) As a coach, most of our work has been done in match analysis or tactical preparation.
"To actually be able to put some sessions on and get a bit of detail and coach as we have over the last ten days - will hopefully come out on the matchday.
"It's a good thing. We needed it and needed to address a couple of areas in the team that we needed to improve. It gave us the time to coach and to rest.
"It gave us a really nice balance. Even the boys having the weekend off, holistically it's nice to just switch off and spend that family time, which is really important.
"Families are such an amazing support mechanism for the players and the staff. I don't think they get enough credit in a big picture of what goes on. To give them a bit of time with their kids, to be fully focussed on their dads, it's very important as well."
Sunderland will walk out in front of 3,145 fans at Sincil Bank on Wednesday, the first time in over a year that they've played in front of a crowd.
Unfortunately, there'll be no away fans permitted at either leg of the semi-finals.
Nonetheless, Johnson is relishing the prospect of a 'siege mentality' at the home of the Imps.
"It's going to be really strange," said Johnson. "It's interesting because you can actually consider team selection in a different way. I talked about those high sensation seekers - some of those players will come alive with a crowd there.
"It doesn't matter if it's a home crowd or away crowd, I'm still learning about this group and what I haven't seen is that - who responds well to supporters and maybe who feels a little bit more pressure when supporters are there.
"That'll be interesting and we'll have to quickly suss that out in 45 minutes.
"We want to win the game and I don't feel like pressure comes into it if I'm honest with you. We want it.
"We want it for those reasons that I talked about and I think pressure can make players freeze.
"We've been pretty steady and pretty stable. Actually you've got to play the moment. You can play the outcome of the game, you can think about too far into the future and sometimes too far into the past.
"We've got to have that mindfulness about us to be as effective as we can in the moment in the games."
Johnson added: "I'm really looking forward to it. It's something that I've felt a little bit distant as a manager coming in. I felt the support off the people but it's all via the media and social media, which I don't look at too much.
"Then the odd interaction bumping into people. I think any player or manager prefers the adulation of the mob rather than not having it. We strive to make people happy and our supporters are well renowned for their passion and their intensity of those passions.
"It'll be nice to experience that albeit 10,000 that we're allowed in for the second leg."
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