Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth insists his side are still very much the minnows ahead of their League One clash with Sunderland this weekend.
Ainsworth, who was touted for the Black Cats job following Jack Ross' sacking, brings his Chairboys to Wearside looking to reassert their lead at the top of the table.
Sunderland go into the game having at last found some form, with two wins in the last three games lifting them to ninth in standings.
But while it's been a difficult campaign so far for Phil Parkinson's side, Ainsworth is under no illusions of the size of the task which awaits them at the Stadium of Light - and knows their lofty league position means everyone is out to beat them.
“We’re a team with a small, stretched squad that has made it to the top of the league, and everyone wants to have a pop at beating us, which is a huge compliment,” Ainsworth said.
“But I make no bones about what a tough game this will be, away at Sunderland, a real special occasion, with tens of thousands of fans roaring them on, and it’s an atmosphere that we will need to be ready for.
“It’ll be an honour for me to be taking Wycombe Wanderers to such a huge club, and I’m sure I’ll have a little flutter in me as we walk through the front door."
While Sunderland have improved their results, Wycombe will be looking for their first win since a 2-0 victory over Burton in mid-December.
Since then they have suffered defeats to Portsmouth, Oxford and Coventry - although they still hold a four-point lead over Rotherham at the top of the table.
A win for Sunderland on Saturday could see them move into the play-off places after falling as low as 15th over Christmas, but Ainsworth is keen to recapture the defiant spirit which helped his side reach their heady heights.
“This is still David against Goliath, and we’re still the David in this scenario, but hopefully we can get our slingshot right and take down another giant in this division," he added.
“We’ll need all the experience of our generals in the squad to help set the tone and make sure the boys are ready.
“We’ll embrace the moment and enjoy stepping out at the Stadium of Light, but once we get over the white line it’s business as usual and we’ll be doing all we can to get something from the game.”
Wycombe beat Sunderland 1-0 in Parkinson's first game in charge back in October thanks to Darius Charles' first-half goal.
