Phil Parkinson named the same starting XI than began last weekend’s Carabao Cup tie against Hull City on Wearside.
That meant Aiden O’Brien made his league debut for the Black Cats, while Bailey Wright made his league debut as a Sunderland player having previously been on loan at the club last season from Bristol City.
Parkinson also included three summer additions on the bench – Danny Graham, Arbenit Xhemajli, and goalkeeper Remi Matthews.
Rovers boss Ben Garner handed striker Brandon Hanlan his debut, and also included fellow summer signings Josh Grant, Max Ehmer, Zain Westbrooke, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, and Sam Nicholson in his starting XI.
Former Sunderland defender Jack Baldwin was on the bench for the Pirates.
You can follow all the action as it happens in our matchday live blog here, with in-game analysis and ratings, and post-match reaction.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Burge, Willis, Wright, Flanagan, O’Nien, Dobson, Maguire, Power, Hume, Grigg, O’Brien
Subs: Matthews, Scowen, Leadbitter, Gooch, Wyke, Xhemajli, Graham
Bristol Rovers: Jaakkola, Little, Leahy, Grant, Ehmer, Westrbooke, Hanlan, Mitchell-Lawson, Nicholson, Kilgour, Harries.
Subs: Van Stappershoff, Baldwin, Hare, Hargeaves, Tutonda, Ayunga, Daly.
