Crystal Palace manager Alan Smith believes tonight's FA Cup third round replay against Sunderland will provide his side with their toughest test of the season.

The clubs have already met twice this term and although Palace hold the upper hand with victory in the Worthington Cup and a draw at the Stadium of Light last week, Smith insisted that the third meeting would be the hardest.

He said: ''The more times you play them, the harder it's going to become. The first time we played them they were slightly off their guard and the second time we had five players out.

''Sunderland will be very much mentally prepared for this game as much as physically so I think every time we play them it will become harder and it's gone that way.

''We won the first one, drew the second one so from their point of view they're getting nearer.''

Smith was also highly complimentary about his opposite number at the Stadium of Light, Peter Reid, who has guided Sunderland into second place in the Premiership.

He added: ''Peter Reid has just been voted manager of the month. He's an extremely good football manager. I thought he was good at Manchester City and was badly treated there. He's a mentally tough person and I think the club very much represents him so I don't think we can say it will be easy.

''Every time we play a Premiership team we have surprised them. We were really up for it the first time we played Sunderland and they weren't quite up for it.''