Martin O'Neill will be hoping to pick up three points when he manages in a Tyne-Wear derby for the first time at noon on Sunday.
Sunderland will look to avenge both the 1-0 defeat suffered earlier this season and the 5-1 humiliation from the last campaign.
O'Neill will be hoping that star forward Stephane Sessegnon will overcome jet-lag following a late return after international action with Benin.
A win would see high-flying Newcastle assert their place in the Premier League's top six and Alan Pardew will be hoping that new signing Papiss Cisse can overcome a groin injury to feature.
Current league form:
Newcastle: WLWWLD
Sunderland: LWWWLL
Possible lineups:
Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon; Gutierrez, Cabaye, Tiote, R Taylor; Ba, Cisse
Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Bridge; Larsson, Gardner, Richardson, McClean; Sessegnon, Bendtner
Sports Mole says: 2-1
