SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid goes into tonight's Worthington Cup fifth round tie at Crystal Palace determined to earn a "mouth-watering" semi-final clash against Merseyside giants Liverpool.

"Obviously Liverpool is in the back of our minds. But first we have to see off Crystal Palace and it is going to be really difficult," said the Merseysider, who was a Kop fan as a boy.

Reid certainly wants no repeat of last week's wasted journey to Selhurst Park, when the match was called off by match referee Alan Wiley because of a waterlogged pitch.

The 2,000 Sunderland fans who made the 600-mile round trip have been compensated by being given free tickets for the FA Cup third round tie - also against Crystal Palace - on January 6.

It is a generous gesture by Sunderland and Reid explained: "We have to be very careful in this day and age of big money television. We can't afford to alienate the fans. They are the life blood of football and always will be and you have got to look after them.

"It was very disappointing and frustrating for supporters to have made such a long journey and to have shelled out a lot of expense.

"I think the club tried to do it right. Money is tight in working class families and it is difficult when something like this happens to supporters. I think it is a fine gesture."

He added: "I am assured the game will go ahead this time.

"But I have spoken to Sam Allardyce, the manager of Bolton Wanderers, who played against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park on Saturday and he said the pitch wasn't too great.

"But it will be the same for both sides and we want the game on and hopefully we can win our way through."

Sunderland go into the game without the services of Niall Quinn, who aggravated a back injury in the 2-0 defeat at Leeds and again finds himself on the treatment table.

Reid said: "He is such an influential player and to be fair he wants to play.

"But it is necessary for me to pull him out of the firing line at times.

"I have spoken to the physiotherapist and Niall's injury is something which can be put right, and fortunately Niall has been able to keep his general fitness level up.

"His injury is obviously a concern but it is not a major worry."

Quinn will again be replaced by Danny Dichio, who came on as a late substitute at Elland Road and hit the bar with a last-minute header.

Reid said: "I am pleased that Danny is getting a chance. He doesn't get many runs in the team and he has been patient.

"I feel there is a lot more to come from Danny. He is ambitious and he is champing at the bit to play.

"He has had injury problems and now he needs to take his career forward. He has done well in training and with the reserves. Now he wants to come into the first team and try to do it."

Reid has also decided to rest midfielder Gavin McCann, who has made three first team starts since recovering from a serious knee injury which kept him out of action for ten months.

He is replaced by another long-term casualty, Stefan Schwarz, who was injured playing a friendly for Sweden in March and needed an operation on damaged Achilles tendons.

Schwarz, who hit three goals in three reserve matches on his return to competitive play, has had to be patient. But he said: "I am happy to be back and I am looking forward to playing.

"The most important thing now is to try to go a full 90 minutes. I have been out a long time.

"But I feel better all the time and I have had no trouble with my ankle.

"The manager will know when I am ready to play. I am prepared to continue to be patient.

"I am not too proud to sit on the substitutes' bench. If I am on the bench I feel I am part of the team."

Sunderland's other change will be in the heart of defence, when giant central defender Stanislav Varga will come in, probably for Brazilian Emerson Thome, who picked up a fifth booking of the season at Leeds and will miss the game at Arsenal a week on Saturday.

Sunderland (probable): Sorensen; Williams, Varga, Craddock, Gray; Kilbane, Rae, Schwarz, Arca; Phillips, Dichio. Subs (from): Roy, Oster, Reddy, Thirlwell, Lumsdon, Marriott.

Meanwhile, Palace boss Alan Smith has tipped goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko to be as good as former Eagle Nigel Martyn.

The Latvian international, signed from Skonto Riga in September, has been a major factor in Palace's 11-match unbeaten run.

The 6ft 2in 25-year-old saved his third penalty of the season at Crewe on Saturday and at £600,000 could prove to be the bargain of the season. Smith was quick to sing his praises after his performance at Gresty Road, adding: ''He's done that several times this year - he's a real star. He's a very good player, very under-estimated, very quiet. But I think he's going to be an exceptional goalkeeper. I'd put him on a similar line to Nigel Martyn when he first came to Palace. He kept us in the Worthington Cup against Tranmere, and the longer it goes the better he gets.

"It was a big culture shock for him coming to England. But he's now got his wife over here, and it's quite interesting that my most disciplined players happen to be two Latvians, one Finnish guy and a Chinese guy.''

Smith is hoping to sign former Wimbledon striker Efan Ekoku, who left the Dons for Swiss side Zurich Grasshoppers two seasons ago and is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday