Bolton manager Gary Megson has warned Barclays Premier League strugglers Sunderland and Hull not to expect an easy ride at the Reebok Stadium.

The Black Cats are the first to visit today and Megson insisted that although his side’s top-flight status is virtually secured it did not mean they would present any less of a challenge.

Wanderers have lost one of their last six league matches at home and although there is often an assumption teams who are safe have nothing to play for, the Bolton boss said this would not apply this afternoon.

‘‘It is going to be a big test for us,’’ said Megson, whose team are eight points above the relegation zone with three matches to play.

‘‘We need to approach every Premier League game we play in the right manner as we still don’t have the points to say we are mathematically safe.

‘‘You have seen this season when we played Northampton (in the Carling Cup), the players were not quite at it and we got beaten.

‘‘We must not look upon the gap we have got as a safety net and think everything will be okay because football has a habit of making you look foolish.

‘‘We will be playing two teams (in their remaining two home games) who are fighting for their lives.

‘‘I don’t want to be a team who Sunderland and Hull think they can play against us and it will be a good game (for them) because we are not at it.

‘‘We have got to play in the manner which befits Bolton, a manner which enables us to get the results we need.’’ The visit of Sunderland sees a return to Bolton of former first-team coach Ricky Sbragia, who replaced Roy Keane as Sunderland manager in December following Wanderers’ 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

Although the Black Cats are still fighting relegation, only four points from safety, Megson believes Sbragia has done well.

‘‘Ricky coming back to this club is a big thing for him. It will be great to see him but we still want to win this match for our own reasons,’’ said the Bolton boss.

‘‘Ricky has had a really difficult job taking over from Roy and has not been getting the results but I think he has held it together really well.’’