MICK McCarthy last night rallied his troops ahead of this evening's play-off opener with Crystal Palace by telling them: "You're good enough to reach the Premiership."

McCarthy has steered the Black Cats to within touching distance of an instant return to the top-flight despite having to deal with the traumatic fall-out from last year's relegation to the Nationwide League.

The former Republic of Ireland manager saw his squad decimated last summer with 23 established Premiership stars leaving the Stadium of Light for pastures new.

But, while the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford have continued their downward descent since leaving the top tier of the English game, Sunderland have confounded the critics who predicted a similar demise.

Victory in their two-legged semi-final would leave them just one game away from the Premiership and, while they might have missed out on automatic promotion this season, McCarthy feels his squad have earned the right to play at the highest level.

"We've got a half decent team," said the Sunderland manager, whose only previous experience of the play-offs came in 1994 when his Millwall side lost out to Derby County at the semi-final stage.

"We were the third best team in the league and we finished behind two good sides. We've done reasonably well this season so, going into the play-offs, we must feel confident.

"All the other teams will think they're good enough to get to the Premiership - we do as well. We think we're good enough to finish ahead of the rest."

Sunderland's last appearance in the play-offs came in 1998 when a last-four win over Sheffield United was followed by one of the most memorable Wembley finals ever.

Peter Reid's side drew 4-4 with Charlton Athletic before Michael Gray's heartbreaking miss settled the most dramatic of penalty shoot-outs.

One spot kick denied Sunderland their place in the top-flight and, with very little to choose between the four sides in this year's competition, McCarthy is hoping to have lady luck on his side over the next two weeks.

"I think the play-offs take on a life of their own," said the Black Cats boss. "Form doesn't really matter and, if I can get one element on our side going into them, I would take that little bit of luck.

"Palace have been playing well, but they had a large slice of luck to get into the play-offs with Brian Deane's last-minute goal at Wigan. That would concern me more than their form.

"We're as good as the other three teams, so a little bit of luck for us would be nice.

"I'm sure there will be a large slice required somewhere down the line. The team that comes through will have played well. They'll have scrapped and worked hard - but I guarantee they'll have had some luck as well."

Luck has certainly been in short supply at the Stadium of Light over the last couple of seasons as Sunderland have suffered a calamitous fall from grace.

The Wearsiders earned the tag of the Premiership's lowest ever points scorers last term and, when they lost the first two league games of this season, another unwanted record beckoned.

The Black Cats would have equalled Darwen's run of 18 consecutive league defeats had they lost at Preston in August, but goals from Sean Thornton and Marcus Stewart earned a 2-0 win that acted as a catalyst for everything that has happened since.

"Had we not beaten Preston that day we might not be in this position now," admitted McCarthy. "In fact, I doubt we would have been.

"The play-offs are important, but I can't say that this game suddenly becomes more important than that Preston game. That match could have had a devastating effect on the club."

Sunderland know exactly what they will be up against this evening after having lost 3-0 at Selhurst Park just three weeks ago.

Goalkeeper Mart Poom's 20th-minute dismissal turned that game on its head, although McCarthy hadn't been too impressed by what had gone on before the Estonian saw red.

"I watched the first 20 minutes of the game again this week and I can honestly say that it was one of the worst 20 minutes of a game of football I've seen in a long time," he said.

"Both sides were useless. I don't think there had been an attempt on goal prior to their penalty - I don't even think there had been a pass to someone's feet."

Skipper George McCartney and club captain Jason McAteer will both return to action as the Black Cats look to improve on that display tonight, with Darren Williams continuing at right-back in place of the injured Stephen Wright.

Kevin Kyle and Marcus Stewart are set to start up front against a Palace side who have won 13 of their last 19 league games.

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