Bolton are without midfielder Mark Davies through suspension.
His place is expected to go to Fabrice Muamba, who made a goal-scoring appearance from the bench against Blackburn last weekend.
Sunderland
Doubtful: Zenden (concussion)
Injured: Bramble, Campbell & Turner (all knee), Carson (shoulder), Ferdinand & Reid (both hamstring), Kilgallon (back)
Bolton
Suspended: M Davies (one match)
Injured: Davis & J O'Brien (both knee), Gardner (thigh), Samuel (calf)
MATCH PREVIEW
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce started his reign as Black Cats boss with a league victory at Bolton at the start of last season. Sixteen months on and both clubs are enjoying life inside the Premier League top seven, and even dreaming of a place in Europe next season.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle celebrates a year in charge at the Reebok Stadium next month, and will see a trip to the Stadium of Light as a benchmark of the club's progress under his stewardship. The Trotters were trounced 4-0 on Wearside last season last March, with Darren Bent helping himself to a hat-trick.
The Black Cats, who are yet to lose at home this season and boast the second best home defensive record, have increasing problems at the back. Anton Ferdinand is the latest player to add his name to a never-ending list of unavailable central defenders.
John (Mensah) has been absolutely terrific for us recently. He's as good as anyone I've worked with. He's good enough to play in any side - and I mean any side
Steve Bruce, Sunderland manager
On-loan Nedum Onuoha was forced to fill in as an emergency centre back last weekend and again looks set to deputise this week. Both Onuoha and Bruce have been quick to praise the contribution of Ghanaian John Mensah, who has steadied the ship at the back in testing times for the North East side.
Bolton strikers Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander have hit 14 league goals between them this season and look set to give Sunderland's make-shift back-line a tough ride. The Swede in particular has excelled on the road for the Trotters, with six of his eight goals coming away from the Reebok Stadium. He also scored twice the last time Bolton beat Sunderland, a 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light in November 2008.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Sunderland and Bolton have met 128 times in the league. The Wearsiders have won 53 times compared to Bolton's 46.
• The Black Cats completed the league double over Bolton last season and have not conceded against them in 305 Premier League minutes.
• This is the third time the two clubs have met on this date: Bolton won 4-1 at home in 1948, while the sides played out a 2-2 at Bolton in 1926.
Which of these sides will finish highest in the league?
Sunderland
• Steve Bruce is unbeaten in his last five matches as a manager against Bolton, with the Trotters failing to score a single goal during this period.
• It's just two defeats in 15 league games for the Black Cats, although eight of those matches have ended in draws.
• Sunderland have kept eight clean sheets this term, including each of their last two games. This is the equal best in the Premier League alongside Manchester City and Chelsea. The Black Cats kept only seven in total last term.
Bolton
• Wanderers have won four of their last seven matches and lost just once during this period.
• No player has committed more fouls in the league this season than Kevin Davies (54).
• Bolton have scored in or after the 88th minute in three of their last four league games.
• The Trotters have conceded in all but one of their last 25 Premier League games, the exception being their goalless draw at home to Fulham on the opening day of the season.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Sunderland
Bent: 9 goals (7 league); Gyan: 6 goals (5 league)
Bolton
Elmander: 8 goals (8 league); K Davies: 6 goals (6 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant referees: Bob Pollock & Glenn Turner
Fourth official: Tony Bates
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Sunderland (D0-0 v Fulham, a): Mignolet; Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand (Elmohamady 10), Bardsley, Meyler (Gyan 53), Cattermole, Henderson, Richardson, Welbeck (Zenden 78), Bent. Subs not used: Gordon, Malbranque, Angeleri, Da Silva.
Bolton (W2-1 v Blackburn, h): Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee (Muamba 58), M Davies, Holden, Petrov (Taylor 77), Elmander, K Davies. Subs not used: Bogdan, Steinsson, Klasnic, Moreno, Blake.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport