The Uruguayan could see his side climb out of the bottom three if they beat a Palace outfit currently three points ahead of the Black Cats.
Gus Poyet: “We have been waiting for this; we’ve been desperate to play.
“I hope that the occasion is massive - I can see and feel in the city that everyone feels the same.
“It’s probably the most important game. I know that finals are very important, but the aim from the first second was to stay in the Barclays Premier League.
“We have 12 games to go now, starting with this one, which is a massive game.”