Cats ready for stage three of physical test.

Byline: JAMES HUNTER 

SUNDERLAND face stage three tomorrow of what Steve Bruce describes as the "most thorough physical examination" the Premier League has to offer.

Having already faced Bolton and Blackburn - both renowned for their muscular style - on the last two weekends, the Black Cats take on another physical side tomorrow when they meet Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

Sunderland have risen to the challenge so far, taking maximum points against the two Lancashire outfits, to offset their defeat against title contenders Chelsea sandwiched between.

And Bruce knows that tomorrow's game is an excellent opportunity to keep Sunderland's momentum going.

He said: "We couldn't have wished for three more difficult matches at the start of the season, in terms of the physical side of the game, than Bolton, Blackburn and Stoke.

"It's the most thorough physical examination you could have.

"But we came through against Bolton and Blackburn and now we have to make sure we do the same against Stoke.

"If you don't match them physically, then you're in for a tough afternoon."

Stoke were promoted last summer and boss Tony Pulis proved the pundits wrong by keeping the Potters in the top flight, thanks largely to a home record which yielded 35 of the total 45 points they ended the season with.

Bruce said: "Last year, their home form was fantastic and it was the reason why they stayed in the Premier League comfortably. "I'm a big admirer of Tony Pulis and what he has achieved at Stoke.

"Whenever you play against any of his teams, you know you're going to be in for a physical encounter and you know that you're going to have to stand up and be counted.

"The test for us is whether we can go there and continue the good run which we have been on."

Stoke signed Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead over the summer, swelling the number of ex-Black Cats in their ranks to five, with Liam Lawrence, Thomas Sorensen, Rory Delap and Danny Higginbotham already there.

And Pulis is also reportedly on the verge of appointing former Sunderland boss Peter Reid - who is currently coach of Thailand's nation team - as his No 2. Bruce said: "If Peter is back in football in this country with Stoke then it is great news - he has been away too long."

Striker Fraizer Campbell has recovered from the shoulder injury he picked up in the Carling Cup win at Norwich this week and will be available.

Craig Gordon could return in goal in place of Marton Fulop, who has been playing despite a heel injury.