The last time Manchester United visited the Stadium of Light in the English Premier League, it was the final day of last season, when for a few minutes United had thought they had clinched their 20th league title, only to witness in horror as Manchester City made the impossible possible with two goals in the final minutes against Queens Park Rangers.
On Saturday when Sir Alex Ferguson and his team travel to Sunderland, there will be no such drama. The title is as good as sealed already with United 15 points clear with a mere nine games remaining.
City manager Roberto Mancini also admitted the title is as good as gone, with United set to be crowned champions in May.
The only aspect to watch out for from the United perspective will be whether this team can break the 95-point record set by Chelsea in the 2004-05 season.
Ferguson will have plenty to ponder for the Sunderland game, however, with United set to face Chelsea in the F.A. Cup quarterfinal replay at Stamford Bridge just two days later on Monday.
There is a good chance that Ferguson will choose to play two completely different sides on Saturday and Monday.
With a 15-point cushion, Ferguson is likely to prioritize the F.A. Cup quarterfinal, meaning the likes of Robin Van Persie and Michael Carrick might be rested for the game against Sunderland.
The manager does not have any new injury worries, with all the players away for the internationals, coming in unscathed, after United used private planes to bring their players back as soon as possible.
Sunderland will take this match extremely seriously, with Martin O'Neill's men in serious danger of being pulled in to the relegation zone. They are currently only four points clear of third bottom Wigan, who have played a game less.
The Black Cats suffered a huge blow with both Steven Fletcher (ankle) and Lee Cattermole (knee) ruled out for the rest of the season, while Carlos Cuellar is out of this game.
However, this might be as good a time as any to play a rampant United, with Ferguson likely to rest some of his big names.
"Whatever side they put out will be capable of winning matches, as has been proved year in, year out," O'Neill told reporters.
"But it's about what we do ourselves. We have some matches to win. There are games coming up which are difficult on paper, but we should look forward to them.
"We need to win games and the sooner we do that the better."
Expected lineups: Sunderland: Mignolet; Gardner, O'Shea, Bramble, Rose; Johnson, Colback, Larsson, Sessegnon, McClean; Graham.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Buttner; Nani, Anderson, Cleverley, Giggs; Rooney, Welbeck.
Prediction: 2-1 to United
