Ryan Lowe has described the Black Cats as "wounded animals" as they make the long trip down to Devon tomorrow.
Sunderland's season has been decimated by injuries and have just one fit centre-half available at their disposal again on Saturday, in Bailey Wright, while Conor McLaughlin is expected to make a return to the squad.
Plymouth have had injury problems of their own and look set to field a makeshift defence, with Lowe set to hand a number of youngsters an opportunity.
However, Lowe has admitted that some of Argyle's youth may have to settle for a place on the bench, with Sunderland in search of a vital three points to secure their play of berth.
Like the Black Cats, the Pilgrims find themselves in a sticky patch having not won in their last five games, with a a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Charlton among those results.
Nonetheless, Lowe is looking to win both of their final games of the season and do the double over Sunderland for the first time since 1992, when they beat the Wearsiders 1-0 both home and away.
Speaking to Plymouth Live, Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said: "It's not about that for us. What we want to do is put on a performance.
"I thought the performance against Oxford (the 3-1 away defeat last Saturday) was okay in some departments, and it was a lot better than the one before (against Charlton).
"We have just got to keep improving the group. We know where we are at, we know what we have got.
"What I'm challenging the group with now is to go and finish on a high. You have got two games to go and play.
"I don't think Sunderland have won in seven, or whatever it is, but they are a fantastic club and have got some fantastic players so we have still got to be mindful of that.
"Everyone goes on a bad run of form, as I well know," added Lowe, whose side have lost nine of their last 13 games. "We are at home and we want to put on a performance."
In his press conference earlier this week, Lowe revealed he could give some of Argyle's youngsters a run out, but remains very wary of the threat the Black Cats pose.
The Pilgrims boss said: "You can't just throw youngsters into a cage with wounded animals, it's not going to happen. I have got a duty of care to those players.
"If I feel the game is going the right way, and I feel it's time to maybe give one or two of them a little opportunity, then yeah I will do it, but I won't just do it for the sake of it."
