CARLTON FAIRWEATHER has called Sunderland Ladies’ race to the Women’s Super League title a ‘mammoth task’ as the Lady Black Cats face three cup finals.

Third-placed Sunderland travel to Manchester City tomorrow, where a victory can put Fairweather’s side level on points with leaders Chelsea, who they meet on the final day of the season.

In between that Sunderland will host fourth-placed Arsenal on September 26 - a run of games that Fairweather is not underestimating.

"For us, we have three major cup finals basically," Fairweather said. "We have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

"You have to be realistic in your approach and the fact that we're playing the best sides in the league is a mammoth task.

"It's not an impossible task, but obviously things are against us in respect to the sides that we're playing against."

Sunderland have not won a game since winning six on the bounce either side of the break for the Women’s World Cup, and lost two Continental Cup games in a row. But Fairweather feels his side are well-placed to give the final three games their best shot.

"We've sat down and had chats with the players individually and collectively," he added.

"With the cup games now out of the way, it gives us time to regroup and focus on the last three games and making sure we can do as well as we possible can do."

Beth Mead, Sunderland’s top performer with 11 goals in the WSL this season, believes that the Lady Black Cats are fully focused on the task in hand, starting with tomorrow’s visit to the Etihad Campus.

"Obviously, we were disappointed with both results against Liverpool and Doncaster Belles last week, but now we have the chance to focus fully on the league,” said the striker.

“With three games to go, we all know what is at stake and we will do everything possible to challenge for the title and a Champions League place.

“The game on Sunday is massive for us and we are under no illusions how tough it is going to be.

“We haven’t managed to beat City yet this season, but I don’t think we’ve been too far off the mark in the previous games.”

“Preparations have gone well so far, there is a real determination at training to work hard and make sure we approach Sunday in the best way possible.”

Durham Women host promotion-chasing Yeovil Town Ladies tomorrow in WSL2.

The injury-hit Wildcats have lost their last four games, but three of those were in the Continental Tyres Cup, and were on a decent run prior to that, winning their previous three league matches.

Jess White is looking for Durham to recapture the form they had before the recent fixtures. She said: "We were doing well before the Everton game the first time and Doncaster, so hopefully if we can carry on the way we were, we can hopefully get the three points we need to climb up the table again because we were doing really well, so hopefully we can get that stride back."