GARY Breen intends to use his wealth of derby experience to help Sunderland bag a couple of firsts this weekend - a first Premiership win and first claim to bragging rights in the season's opening North-East derby.

Tomorrow's crucial game against Middlesbrough at The Riverside won't be the first time Breen has had a taste of local rivalry. The Black Cats skipper was in the Sunderland squad which enjoyed a narrow 1-0 FA Cup third round victory over League One rivals Hartlepool at the Stadium of Light two years ago.

More than 10,000 Pool fans travelled to Wearside on that day and Breen admitted they made a memorable impression.

"If it is anything like that then it will be a great day because it was a fantastic occasion," said the 31-year-old defender.

"I'm not from the area but I live in and around the fans and we know how much it means to the supporters so it would be particularly sweet to get our first win."

Breen has been involved in several local clashes throughout his long established career including a couple of tasty Midlands battles while playing for Birmingham and Coventry against Aston Villa - he even suffered the indignity of receiving his marching orders in one game.

His earliest memory, however, came as a schoolboy sitting in the Junior Gunners section at Highbury in a North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham.

"I'd go to Highbury for the Spurs games. I was sitting in the Junior Gunners section when Graham Roberts dumped Charlie Nicholas right into the middle of us so I soon understood what it was all about.

"I might have to pick a smaller player to do that to though as Middlesbrough have a couple of big lads."

Most pundits wrote off Sunderland's chances of surviving in the Premiership before a ball was even kicked.

Although one point from a possible 18 has done little to suggest anything other than a quick return to the Championship, a positive Breen has drawn parallels with last season's poor start and insists they can do better.

Manager Mick McCarthy brought more than a few new players to the club last term, many of whom had never played in the Championship before.

Once again, the Sunderland boss has added substantially to a newly-promoted squad who have, on the whole, never competed at Premiership level.

Breen isn't suggesting Sunderland will be in the league's upper echelons by any means but believes the club's new blood will eradicate the 'fear factor'as they did last season and turn around the club's flagging fortunes.

"I think it's natural the younger players will fear (established Premiership players)," admitted Breen.

"We didn't start well last season because we brought a lot of new players up from the lower leagues, but they realised after six to ten games they're good enough and possibly better than everything they're playing against in that league.

"This year is the same scenario and they're realising that again.

"If you haven't played at this level before you can often think that everyone in the Premiership is a Thierry Henry or a world class player and it's not really the case.

"The top players are fantastic but there's a league we need to compete against and slowly but surely the players are realising they can compete against them.

"Some people wrote us off before the start of the season because anyone who comes up is always going to struggle because that is what history suggests.

"Teams such as Charlton, Manchester City and Birmingham, who all struggled originally, have consolidated and hung in there to establish themselves.

"It'll be a tough game as Boro have paid a lot of money for big players but I'm sure our players will be looking forward to it."