DANISH goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen sounded a warning to his Sunderland teammates on the eve of tonight's FA Cup Third Round replay at Crystal Palace - "If we're not up for it we'll lose again."

Sunderland fell victims to the buoyant First Division side in the quarter finals of the Worthington Cup at Selhurst Park last month and the Londoners defied the Wearsiders, now lying second in the Premiership, in a goalless FA Cup tie at the Stadium of Light.

Now Sunderland face a formidable task on a quick return to Palace, who last week beat Liverpool 2-1 in the first leg of the Worthington Cup semi-final and underlined their form by hammering Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground at the weekend.

And Sorensen knows how hard it will be tonight. He said: "If we take our Premiership form into the game we are a good enough side to win.

"But in our two matches against Palace we haven't been 100 per cent up for it and you can't win that way.

"Crystal Palace have shown great spirit and they have some good players who can decide games. If we are not up for it we will get beat again. It is a tough challenge but we need to put the record straight."

Sorensen knows that fans have asked why a leading Premiership side has failed to beat a team which is only lying mid-table in the First Division.

He said: "It is just something in the back of the head which maybe hasn't been right. We need to be positive and take something positive out of the game by winning it."

Sunderland will again be favourites to win and Sorensen believes this should not be a burden.

He said: "Even as favourites we should have learned that this is not an easy game. We are near the top of the Premier League and that comes with it. We should be good enough to overcome that."

Sorensen felt that the Worthington Cup defeat was one of the lowest points of Sunderland's season so far.

He said: "Overall it was a very bad performance. It was not as though we were outclassed - we were still in the game - but we didn't play well. We didn't take our chances and we made some stupid mistakes. I made a mistake as well and I hold my hands up.

"It was a big disappointment because it was a great chance to go through all the way after beating Manchester United in the previous round.

"But we can't look back, we need to look forward and this game is the chance to put things right."

Brazilian central defender, Emerson Thome, is also well aware of the pressure Sunderland will have to face in the replay from his former Chelsea teammate Mikael Forssell and his exciting 16-goal strike partner Clinton Morrison.

Thome, who joined Sunderland for a club-record £4.5m earlier in the season, is steeling himself for another hard game.

He said: "I know the potential of Forssell - I trained with him every day at Chelsea. He is a strong, honest boy who always tries his best and gives 100 percent. Clinton Morrison is very like him and has proved his ability by scoring goals.

"I know for sure that our manager is happy with our League position but we are looking forward to a good run in the Cup.

"I believe if we play as well as we did at West Ham we will win.

"But the Cup is different to League games and it will a close battle - I know because I have played twice against Palace and it won't be easy.

"It will be a hard battle and both teams will be showing their fighting spirit. I expect a battle and a really difficult game."

Sunderland manager Peter Reid, who will stick to the team which won 2-0 at West Ham to take Sunderland into their highest position for 50 years, is relishing the clash - and a home game against Ipswich Town in the next round.

He said: "It is a smashing game for us, Crystal Palace have done terrifically well lately and they are riding high and so are we.

"I think we were poor against them at our place, especially when they went down to ten men. We tried to force it too much but overall we had a lot of chances.

"We took a lot of comfort from our performance at West Ham - we were solid at the back it was a well deserved victory.

"This is a massive game for us. We were disappointing there in the Worthington Cup and I certainly expect us to put on a better performance."

Striker Niall Quinn, who has been having problems with a back injury, came through training yesterday and is fit to play.

Sunderland: Sorensen; Williams, Thome, Varga, Gray; Hutchison, Rae, McCann, Schwarz; Quinn, Phillips. Subs (from): Dichio, Craddock, Thirlwell, McCartney, Oster, Ingham.

l Steve McManaman has admitted he would love to face his Real Madrid teammates when England play Spain in a friendly next month.

McManaman is hoping that his stunning volley for Madrid in the 4-0 win over Oviedo last Sunday will persuade Sven-Goran Eriksson to pick him. ''I didn't play against Italy in November and I would love to wear the England shirt again.''