AS the anticipation grows towards the 146th Wear-Tyne derby, Martin O'Neill claims Sunderland could have a secret weapon in their pursuit of local pride tomorrow afternoon.

The Black Cats head into the visit of Newcastle United with just one home victory to show from the last 32 years against their major North-East rivals.

Inside the Stadium of Light, Sunderland will be spurred on for the first time against the Magpies by a full bowl of their own supporters and Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admitted the change will help the hosts.

The section for away fans was moved at the start of the season and tomorrow will be the first time Newcastle's supporters inside the 48,000-capacity venue will be sat high in the North Stand rather than on top of the pitch at the opposite end.

With Sunderland's players set for an incredible wall of noise from purely their own supporters all around the touchline, O'Neill is hopeful that will play a crucial role in the events which unfold.

"I do think it makes the difference," said O'Neill. "I did it at Aston Villa, although I think the idea had already been thought about, I did endorse it and I think it made a big difference. A really big difference to the club.

"When you have got a ground like Sunderland it is really atmospheric when the crowd get behind you. I think Villa, the kind of ground it is, had a similar feeling. When you have got fans behind both goals and there's noise emanating from that (it helps).

"It is less intimidating for your goalkeeper, for a start. He's not under severe pressure. And of course, if we're ever involved in a League Cup and FA Cup penalty shoot-out we'll have it at both ends!"

The situation is similar to that which occurs at St James' Park, where the away supporters are always high in the Leazes End. Pardew said: "I think it will be an advantage (to Sunderland) not to have them behind the goal.

"We can't complain because that's why we put the opposition's fans up in the Gods as well. Regardless of where they are sitting, we know we have the best supporters in the land and they will be in a pocket somewhere making lost of noise."

Following the postponement of Sunderland's first scheduled home game of the season against Reading in August, there has only been two Premier League fixtures played on Wearside this season.

More than 41,000 were inside to witness the draw with Liverpool, while less than 38,000 watched Sunderland's only league win so far over Wigan. With a sell-out crowd tomorrow, the atmosphere will be something extra.

"I think the two games we've played at home this season have evoked a really decent atmosphere. Liverpool was nearly full," said O'Neill. "We had fans behind both goals so that was really good. I want us to win this game for everybody and the fans become paramount. It's obviously their day. I hope the players are up for the game and I'm hoping I'm up for it myself."

Whether the rearranged lay-out of the fans will lead Sunderland to a rare home victory over Newcastle is open to debate. O'Neill, for one, is as perplexed as his predecessors as to why the defeat in 2008 was Newcastle's only loss on Wearside in 14 matches.

"One (home) win in 32 years? Good lord, is that right?" said O'Neill. "I can't give you an answer why that is at this moment. About an hour ago I was really looking forward to it ... Can somebody give me a drop of whisky in my water now!"

The visit of Newcastle will be the biggest game Sunderland have played since suffering a FA Cup quarter-final replay defeat to Everton in March. That night many of those in red and white shirts were accused of freezing when it mattered.

O'Neill rubbished such claims: "Freeze is a big word. That was the best Everton played. We played well under-par, there's no question of that and Everton played brilliantly.

"I'm unable to give you an assurance that we wouldn't be second best on the day against Newcastle. They're a very fine side, they're strong, they're physical and they can mix it with the very best.

"They can go long if they want, they have ability in the middle of the field and they have a young dribbler who can go past players at will.

"So they've got a mixture of all. I thought Manchester City were a physically strong team - particularly when you see them in the tunnel versus some of our lads - and Newcastle are every bit as physically strong as them."