Michael Appleton believes there's more chance of him starting for Lincoln City, than there is Aiden McGeady missing tomorrow's game.
The Black Cats are locked in a contract stand-off with the 35-year-old talisman who has been their star man this season.
The former Republic of Ireland international is out of contract in the summer but has a clause in his current deal which entitles him to a 12-month extension if he starts 30 league games - with play-off ties also counting towards that total.
McGeady played the full 90 minutes in the semi-final first leg against the Imps, taking him to 29 starts for the season.
Even with new owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus now installed on Wearside, Sunderland's finances will look very different next season depending on whether the club wins promotion to the Championship or finds itself facing up to a fourth season in League One.
Speaking to LincsLive, Appleton said he would be amazed if McGeady misses the game, joking: “There’s more chance of me playing for us tomorrow than there is on McGeady not playing for them.”
Asked if he thought McGeady would start, a smiling Appleton said: “100 per cent, because he’s their best player and they’ve got a lot of money.
“Me, personally, I would [play McGeady], but Lee [Johnson] may not have the authority to do it. I get that.
“Listen, I’m saying this tongue in cheek. I’ll be happy [if McGeady doesn’t play] but I’ll be shocked.
“He’s a fantastic player, a match-winner. Most of their best bits of play the other night came when he got the ball.
“They’ve got some other fantastic players in those areas, but McGeady is one who has supplied Charlie Wyke [Sunderland’s leading scorer] for most of the season.”
