SUNDERLAND will have to overcome a double defensive blow on Sunday after an FA disciplinary committee rejected Steve Caldwell's appeal against his dismissal at Fulham.

With Gary Breen also suspended following his fifth booking of the season, Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy is considering catapulting Neill Collins straight into the first team following the end of his loan spell at Hartlepool.

McCarthy had been hoping to have Caldwell's dismissal overturned after reviewing video evidence of his tussle with Iceland international Heidar Helguson.

But, with referee Dermot Gallagher standing by his original decision, the FA yesterday ruled the centre-half's red card stands.

Caldwell will serve a one-match ban, ruling him out of the FA Cup third-round clash with non-league Northwich Victoria.

McCarthy must now reorganise a defence that had shown much-needed signs of improvement in recent weeks. While the Black Cats had been shipping goals during October and November, their last three outings have seen just three conceded.

Alan Stubbs is poised to make his first start since November's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa, with Neill Collins expected to partner him at the heart of defence.

His namesake, Danny, could also slot in at centre-half if needed, but he has performed well at left-back.

While Justin Hoyte is free to play on the opposite flank despite being permanently employed by Arsenal, the enforced reshuffle is hardly ideal given Sunderland's need to avoid the ignominy of a struggle against the Nationwide North part-timers.

Northwich boast former Newcastle striker Paul Brayson in their ranks and, with the Black Cats having failed to win a single home game inside 90 minutes this season - their only success, against Cheltenham, came after extra-time - the mood inside the Stadium of Light could turn decidedly ugly if things do not go to plan in the early stages of this weekend's game.

The visitors are expected to bring over 2,000 fans to Wearside but, while the tie has all the ingredients for a classic Cup shock, Kelvin Davis is confident his team-mates are professional enough to guard against complacency.

"Our fans will be expecting us to win comfortably and we should," said Davis. "If we work hard and approach the game in the right way, we shouldn't have any problems.

"We didn't deserve to lose against Everton or Fulham and we will go into the Northwich game showing the same attitude.

"We are still confident - anyone who watched the Fulham game will have seen that - and it's important to stay positive in the situation we are in."

Meanwhile, injury-plagued winger Matt Piper is expected to sign a loan deal at League One side Coventry later this month.

* Former Liverpool and Newcastle pair, Ian Rush and John Barnes, have been helping plot Sunderland's downfall, passing on their advice and experience to the Nationwide North side.

And Rush believes they have a fighting chance of stunning the struggling Barclays Premiership team.

''There will be shocks in the Cup at the weekend and there is no reason why it can't be Northwich,'' said Rush. ''They have done well so far and it is matter of taking your chances at this level."

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