IT MAY be the greatest mismatch in Premiership history but, as champions elect Chelsea prepare to visit the Stadium of Light tomorrow, Mick McCarthy has insisted his Sunderland side are capable of springing one of the biggest surprises top-flight football has ever seen.

With a staggering 52 points separating the Black Cats and the reigning champions, the gap between bottom and top is currently bigger than it has been at the same stage of any season since the Premiership was created in 1992.

Having won just one of their 20 league games so far, Sunderland's record in the first half of the season is the worst in Premiership history.

Yet, as exceptional as their under-achievement has been, even that is overshadowed by Chelsea's magnificence. In complete contrast to their hosts, Jose Mourinho's men have lost just one of their 21 games. Almost incredulously, they have dropped less points than Sunderland have won.

Last weekend, the Black Cats were the dominant party in a mismatch that saw Northwich Victoria, almost 100 places below the Wearsiders in the Football League pyramid, slip to a 3-0 defeat in the FA Cup third round.

With Chelsea's annual wage bill almost eight times as big as Sunderland's, tomorrow's game promises to be every bit as unbalanced. But after the likes of Burton Albion, Nuneaton Borough and Torquay United confirmed football's enduring ability to shock, McCarthy is looking for his underdogs to pull off the Premiership surprise of the season.

"People can say what they like about the gap between top and bottom," said McCarthy, who will welcome Gary Breen and Steve Caldwell back into his back four following their suspension last weekend. "As far as I'm concerned, it's 19 places, simple as that. I prefer the 19 places to the 52 points because it doesn't sound quite as bad.

"Is that because they have been flying though, or because we have been struggling? The number of points we have got has undoubtedly exacerbated the situation.

"I don't view this as a mismatch. I view it as two Premiership teams having a go. Yes, they have a better side. There's no question about that. But does it always happen that the best side wins?

"It might be the biggest percentage. But I like that fact that at some stage, someone will beat them. No-one is unbeatable.

"I can't give you any reasons why we might beat them because, if I started going through the players, what they have done this season and what we have done, I would be mocked. I just know football and I know it happens.

"We're poles apart because of Chelsea's financial clout and the group of players they have. But, in terms of playing football, we are both in the same league. This is not a foregone conclusion."

When Chelsea last visited the Stadium of Light, in April 2003, the two clubs were in identical financial strife. Sunderland were about to embark on a cost-cutting spree as they tumbled out of the top-flight, while the Blues were on the brink of administration as their debts spiraled out of control.

Since then, though, the difference between the duo has been stark.

The Black Cats have cut their wage bill in half and turned to bargain-bin buys in an attempt to remain solvent. Chelsea, on the other hand, have used Roman Abramovich's wealth to indulge in a real-life version of fantasy football. Given the financial constraints he has been forced to overcome, McCarthy could be forgiven for viewing Mourinho's limitless resources with a mixture of envy and disgust. Instead, though, he regards the Portuguese manager as an inspiration to his Premiership peers.

"It's an amazing turnaround," he said. "It was only when Roman Abramovich came in that it changed. Before then, they were on the brink of having huge financial problems. He has changed it all around but it has been great for the game.

"Chelsea broke the domination of Manchester United and Arsenal. That was wearing a bit thin. It used to be Sir Alex (Ferguson) and Arsene Wenger that were having a ding-dong battle - now Jose has been thrown into the mix.

"He has done a brilliant job. It's all very well having money, it's another thing to spend it wisely and assemble a squad."

McCarthy's attempts to spend money of his own will continue next week. Sunderland's board will meet on Tuesday to discuss how much they are willing to pay for Swiss midfielder Ricardo Cabanas, a player who remains desperate to play in the Premiership.

Cabanas spurned an offer to join Nuremberg yesterday but another German club, Wolfsburg, are expected to approach the Grasshoppers player later this weekend.

Christian Steen has spent the last week on trial at the Stadium of Light and, in a surprise move, the Norwegian defender has been joined by former Millwall striker Richard Sadlier.

The 26-year-old, who lives half a mile away from McCarthy's family home in Bromley, retired from football in September 2003 following a spate of serious hip problems.

He won one full Republic of Ireland cap under the current Sunderland boss and almost moved to the Stadium of Light in 2002 as a long-term replacement for Niall Quinn.

Injury scuppered those plans and Sadlier's playing days looked to be over following a second operation that left him without any cartilage in one of his hips.

He is attempting a surprise return, though, and could even earn a short-term contract if his fitness improves.

"Richard is here at the moment," confirmed McCarthy. "I first came across him as a 15-year-old at Millwall.

"I offered to help him if he ever needed it and I got a call from him to ask if he could come and train with us.

"That's what is happening and we will take it from there.

"He's getting his treatment and he's training with us. He's a 6ft 2in striker and I know all about his strengths."

If nothing else, Sadlier can compare notes with fellow hip injury victim Kevin Kyle.

The Scotsman made his eagerly-awaited comeback in this week's reserves defeat at Middlesbrough but McCarthy insists it is far too early to think about a return to the first team.

Read more about Sunderland here.