SUNDERLAND boss Peter Reid last night told his squad to go with all guns blazing into the Tees-Wear derby with Middlesbrough.

Following impressive results against the two Uniteds - Leeds and Manchester - the Black Cats travel to the Riverside this evening on a high.

And Reid has warned his opposite number, Steve McClaren, that he will be urging his men to attack at will in front of the Teesside crowd. The Sunderland chief is likely to opt to play with three men up front for the clash - with Kevin Phillips playing alongside record-buy Tore Andre Flo and promising winger Matt Piper.

Recent capture from Ipswich Marcus Stewart is also available and Reid revealed that Boro will have to be on their guard.

"I've got the option of going 4-3-3 away from home when we have got the ball or 4-5-1 when we haven't," he said.

"It is a positive and it's not a negative. You always want to try to keep it tight but I feel, with the two new signings and Matt Piper, we have got that ability to go forward as well.

"Starting with Phillips, Flo and Stewart is something that we will work on. I think with the quality of the three, and it is difficult to fit them all in, I would not be afraid to do that.

"Obviously it's a bonus to have Marcus available following the birth of his child. He will play some part in proceedings at the Riverside."

But while aiming to attack their hosts, Reid is also remaining cautious with the likelihood of Boro fielding their own exciting striking partnership - Alen Boksic and Massimo Maccarone.

"I've seen Maccarone in the under-21s and he looks a player," he said. "Boksic is world-class and it will be interesting to see them as a pair.

"The last time I watched Boro against Man. United they went to Old Trafford and kept it tight.

"But I'm summising they will play with Maccarone and Boksic up front and they will have a go at us and I want to get at them whenever we have got the ball."

Reid has been impressed with the way McClaren has conducted business since taking over the Riverside hot-seat in June 2001.

But the Stadium of Light boss believes, after his side's positive start to the new campaign, the Sunderland players are determined to maintain their high levels of performance against Boro.

"It's going to be a difficult game,'' said Reid. "They have Boksic and Maccarone; George Boateng in the middle and then two centre-backs who are England internationals.

"But from our point of view there is a ring of confidence now with a couple of good results and a couple of new signings - I think it's lifted everybody. The lads are really looking forward to it."

Sunderland have conceded just two goals - against Everton and Manchester United - since the start of the new campaign and kept two away day clean sheets at Leeds and Blackburn.

And that has largely been down to the resolute defending of Reid's back four, with summer signings Stephen Wright and Phil Babb quickly gelling with Joachim Bjorklund and Michael Gray.

Wright's displays at right-back have led to his manager suggesting England honours will be on the cards, and Reid also heaped praise on his centre-back pairing of Babb and Bjorklund.

"They have been outstanding. Babb has done well by the way he has come in and adjusted to our pattern, but Joachim is the unsung one. He just gets on with it," he said. "But they are both internationals with bags of experienc, have got pace and can read the game.

"Joachim is quiet but he is a natural defender and he has come in to his own. He has been very, very good for us. Wrighty has also been fantastic. If you look at the players he has had to contend with - Giggs, Duff, Kewell - he has done fantastic .''

Bjorklund (hip) and Jason McAteer (hamstring) are expected to shrug off injuries to play.

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