Everton have a number of injury concerns ahead of the game.
Key midfielders Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini are the latest additions to the casualty list with unspecified knocks and will be assessed before the game.
Striker Louis Saha is hoping to shake off the hamstring injury that has kept him out for two games while Jack Rodwell (groin) is also doubtful.
Victor Anichebe is another doubt but Phil Jagielka has fully overcome the thigh strain that sidelined him in December and has restricted him to bench duties for most of the past month.
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is struggling with a knee problem so Simon Mignolet is standing by to replace him if he does not make it.
The Black Cats are still without Michael Turner, Fraizer Campbell, David Meyler, Danny Welbeck (all knee) Lee Cattermole (back) but Steve Bruce should be boosted by some of their returns soon.
Turner was told the pain he was feeling in his knee following his return to training was nothing sinister, Campbell is hoping to be given the go-ahead to resume training and Meyler is having checks to ensure his rehabilitation is on track.
Cattermole has resumed light training and could be as little as 10 days away from rejoining his team-mates, while Welbeck is due to return from treatment in Manchester on Monday.
Eighteen-year-old midfielder Billy Knott has been added to the squad.
Everton (from): Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Neville, Cahill, Fellaini, Osman, Arteta, Saha, Rodwell, Beckford, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Heitinga, Hibbert, Coleman, Anichebe, Baxter, Duffy, Mucha.
Sunderland (from): Gordon, Mignolet, Onuoha, Bardsley, Richardson, Angeleri, Ferdinand, Bramble, Mensah, Muntari, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Sessegnon, Colback, Gyan, Adams, Cook, Knott.
