DARREN Williams last night claimed that Sunderland are the number one side in the First Division play-off race - and the Black Cats full-back expects to prove as much over the final fortnight of the season.

Sunderland will play the first leg of their semi-final with Crystal Palace in London on Friday night, with the return game on Wearside coming just three days later.

Sunday's 2-1 win at Burnley secured a third-place finish in the final First Division table but, while the Wearsiders might have been the best of the rest in terms of points, the highest play-off finishers have only been promoted in two of the last 12 seasons.

Williams accepts that there is not a lot to choose between the four teams who will battle it out for a place in the Premiership.

But, after bouncing back so well from the disappointment of last season's relegation from the top-flight, the defender feels Sunderland hold a slight edge over their rivals.

"We're the best team in the play-offs and now we've got to go out there and prove it," said Williams, who was handed the captain's armband at Turf Moor.

"People are saying that getting Crystal Palace is a worst-case scenario, but I don't think it is. It's a lottery and I don't think it matters who you get.

"If teams are good enough to get into the play-offs then everyone will be just about as good as each other.

"But hopefully we're going to prove that we're that one step better."

Sunday's victory means that Sunderland are the only side going into the end of season shootout with back to back wins under their belt.

But, in Palace, they are running into a side that have won 13 of their last 19 games to turn their season around following Iain Dowie's managerial appointment in late December.

The Eagles proved their mettle when they crushed Sunderland 3-0 at Selhurst Park three weeks ago and, while the 20th-minute dismissal of Mart Poom hindered the Black Cats' chances in that game, Dowie's side were already well on top by that stage.

Williams admits that the Wearsiders will be on something of a revenge mission for April's defeat and, while Palace's form since Christmas might have been fantastic, he is more than happy with Sunderland's own recent run.

"We owe them one because we went there and we didn't have the best of days," said the Teessider. "But we had a man sent off and I think that, 11 against 11, we're a match for any team.

"Palace have done tremendously this season. They've come from 20th in the league and got themselves into the play-offs, so all credit to them.

"They're a good side and the manager's put together some good players. But we've played Palace twice this year and we know what they're about, just as they know what we're about.

"Hopefully we have that edge over them, and that little something extra that can take us into the final.

"We're going into the play-offs on a good run and we've got to carry that into the rest of the games."

Williams, who is Sunderland's longest-serving player, has made 236 appearances for the club since making a £50,000 move from lowly York City in October 1996.

The versatile defender is the only remaining member of the squad that beat Sheffield United at the semi-final stage in 1998 before losing on penalties to Charlton in a game widely recognised as the greatest play-off final ever.

"I think it helps that I've been through the play-offs," said the 27-year-old. "You can learn from anything.

"We learned from the last time we were in the play-offs - although I think I'm the only player left now.

"You learn from things as you go through your career. We've got international lads who have learned a lot from major tournaments and I'm sure they'll carry their experience into the games."

Sunday's win at Burnley was achieved despite the Black Cats falling behind in a lethargic opening period, and Mick McCarthy's side are aware that they cannot afford a similarly slow start on Friday.

"The play-offs are totally different to playing league games," said Williams, who is set to start at right-back at Selhurst Park unless Stephen Wright's thigh injury improves significantly this week. "In their own way they're one-off games.

"If we go out there, start sluggishly again and go behind, it's going to be far more difficult to get back into the game than it sometimes is in a normal league game."

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