Watford will play in front of the largest crowd they have faced in more than 12 months when they step out at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Sunderland are anticipating the attendance could be as large as 45,000 with sales of tickets well above average and many areas of the stadium already sold out.

Although Watford have nothing but pride and points to play for, the Black Cats could secure their place in the play-offs if they beat the Hornets and other results go their way.

Saturday’s game will be the first time the Hornets have played in front of more than 40,000 people since a crowd of 53,013 saw them beaten 5-1 at Manchester City on April 23, 2022.

Sunderland have averaged 38,766 for their home league games this season, the highest in the Championship.

Their biggest attendance of the season so far is the 43,940 who saw them beat Blackburn 2-1 on Boxing Day, and club officials say they feel Saturday’s crowd could eclipse that.

However, with Watford expected to take between 600 and 700 to the game, it will be a crowd made up of more than 98% home supporters.

Surprisingly, despite sitting sixth in the table, Sunderland have only won one of their last seven at home and were trounced 5-1 by Stoke on their own turf at the start of March.

However, they are unbeaten in their last seven league games overall, and they have not failed to score at the Stadium of Light since November 5.

Watford’s recent record at Sunderland is not great, with one win and one draw in the last eight league visits.

The sole victory came in December 2015, when an early Odion Ighalo goal was enough for a 1-0 victory.