After a difficult start to their League One campaign, Tranmere head to the Stadium of Light tonight buoyed by some recent positive results.
Wins over Burton and Coventry have lifted them up the table somewhat, and Micky Mellon's side were frustrated not to get more than a point in last Friday night's clash with Southend United.
However, they will face Sunderland with a number of their most dangerous players currently out injured, with midfielder Ollie Banks and forward Morgan Ferrier two key absentees for the Whites.
Here, Liverpool Echo's Tom Cavilla highlights three key Tranmere players Phil Parkinson's men will have to look out for tonight.
Stefan Payne
Out of those available, one player who can certainly be classed as a danger man is Stefan Payne.
The 28-year-old striker has developed somewhat of a reputation for being a poacher in recent weeks, with three of his four goals this season coming from virtually two yards off the goal-line.
He is a tenacious striker, who is rather physical and enjoys tussling for possession with defenders. He may not create many chances, but if presented with one, he may well take it.
Corey Blackett-Taylor
Another player who possesses the potential to cause real problems for the defence is Corey Blackett-Taylor.
The 22-year-old attacker joined Tranmere in the summer from Aston Villa, where he was highly-rated having progressed through the club's Academy.
Blackett-Taylor has found appearances hard to come by so far, though showed exactly what he is capable of when handed a first league start of the season a week ago versus Coventry City.
He scored the game’s winning goal courtesy of a superb finish on his weaker left foot, to hand Rovers an unlikely win on their travels.
His game is very much about being direct when in possession of the ball and using his blistering pace to great effect.
Blackett-Taylor can operate on the wing or directly as a striker.
Kieron Morris
Though a winger by trade, Morris has been deployed as a wing-back on a few occasions this season.
In this new role, the former Walsall forward has shone and really appears to have kicked on from last season.
Tranmere reverted back to a formation which saw Morris in midfield against Southend last Friday, and he was the one player driving at the away side’s defence and moving into promising positions.
The 25-year-old is particularly agile and tends to complete mazy runs down the wing. He is not the quickest player, but always seems to find himself in the right place at the right time to either score or help set-up goals.
