Jack Colback is convinced Sunderland have nothing to fear as they prepare for their enticing double-header with Arsenal.
The 22-year-old midfielder played his part in ensuring the Gunners will head for the Stadium of Light on successive weekends when his FA Cup fourth-round replay goal at Middlesbrough helped set the stage for Stephane Sessegnon's extra-time winner.
Arsene Wenger's men await the Black Cats in the fifth round on February 18, but not before they head for Wearside in the Barclays Premier League this Saturday.
Arsenal smashed seven goals past Blackburn last weekend, but Colback is confident Sunderland, who have now won nine and lost just two of the 13 games they have played under new manager Martin O'Neill, can meet them head on.
He said: "It's a good opportunity for us. They come up to our place twice and I am sure they will be fearing us as much as we fear them.
"It should be a good game, the one on Saturday, and hopefully we can progress like we have been doing and keep on winning.
"We know what to expect from them. They pass it well and we like to do the same.
"I'm sure it will be an open game, and enjoyable game and hopefully we can come out with the three points."
Colback and his team-mates could be forgiven for allowing their minds to wander to the second game, particularly as the Black Cats had not reached the last 16 for eight years before on Wednesday night.
However, O'Neill's pragmatism has clearly been transmitted to the dressing room.
Colback said: "You have just got to take every game as it comes. We will take the game on Saturday first and focus on that, and then we will take the cup later."
It was the Tyneside-born midfielder who drew first blood in the Tees-Wear clash at the Riverside Stadium when, slightly against the run of play, he crashed home the opening goal off the underside of Jason Steele's crossbar three minutes before the break.
He said: "I have always had a belief in myself that I can score goals like that. It's something I definitely need to add to my game.
"However they go in, I just need to be scoring 10-plus a season."
Boro responded within 12 minutes of the restart when January signing Lukas Jutkiewicz levelled with his first goal for the club, and the tie looked to be heading for a penalty shoot-out when, with eight minutes of extra-time remaining, Sessegnon won it for the visitors with his seventh goal of the season.
Colback said: "I was running about thinking about where I would put my penalty if I was to take one, but Stephane worked hard all night, like all the lads did, and it was probably deserved in the end.
"We knew what to expect from Middlesbrough. They came up to the Stadium of Light and they worked really hard. They get about you and they make it hard for you.
"But the confidence is really high at the moment and we create chances, and thankfully we got the second."
Boro boss Tony Mowbray was at least able to console himself with 22-year-old Jutkiewicz's strike, and the hope that there are more to come during the npower Championship promotion run-in.
He said: "He seemed to have a long, long time to hit that. It was falling on his right foot as well, and it's great credit to him and his concentration levels.
"To make a clean contact and hit the target was great for him. He's off the mark.
"His performances in the first two games - I thought Saturday was a slightly tired performance from him, yet his performance level has added something to our team, a bit of physicality, the ball can stick a little bit better up the top end of the pitch.
"Ultimately, he is here to score goals and I am pleased for him that he's off the mark. Hopefully it will be the first of many."
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