Sunderland have been brilliant so far this season and a huge portion of credit has to go to manager Jack Ross and the club's new owner, Steward Donald.
The pair contrived in the summer to completely renovate the general atmosphere around the club by shipping out the bad apples at the club and bringing in players who genuinely wanted to be there.
The likes of Jack Baldwin, Chris Maguire, Dylan McGeouch and Tom Flanagan all arrived in the summer and have been some of the club's brightest performers so far.
Add to that the likes of exciting 19-year-old Josh Maja, who already has nine goals this season, as well as creators such as Lynden Gooch and Aiden McGeady it is hard to see them missing out on promotion.
The Black Cats have won eight matches on the bounce now and face Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday as they look to close the gap on table-toppers Portsmouth.
Here is how we expect them to line-up against the Chairboys...
In goal will, of course, be McLaughlin.
The summer recruit has probably been the most impressive shot-stopper in the league and it would be a big surprise to see him dropped.
Matthews will most likely continue at right-back.
He has become a key part of a settled and strong back four and we cannot see Ross changing that.
Flanagan has been somewhat of a surprise package since joining in the summer.
He probably would not have expected to be a first choice centre-back as soon but he is and deservedly so.
Flanagan and Baldwin are starting to form a very impressive partnership at the heart of the defence.
He was deemed surplus to requirements by Peterborough but has become a key part of the Black Cats' squad.
There is no reason James won't continue on the left of the defence.
He has been thoroughly impressive since arriving from Wigan on a free in the summer.
Power will most likely return to the starting line-up in place of Dylan McGeouch.
In a match where the task will be to break down a resilient defence they will need the Wigan loanee's quality on the ball.
Honeyman will be alongside him.
The Black Cats' captain has been quietly crucial so far this season and is a real favourite of Ross.
Expect him to start.
On the right will be the inspired Chris Maguire.
He has been in scintillating form since joining in the summer and gets the fans off their seats every time he touches the ball.
Gooch has proven an inspired inclusion by Ross this season.
His creative abilities behind the striker have been one of the high points of the Sunderland season and there is no doubt he will start.
On the left-wing will most likely be McGeady.
On his day, the Irishman is comfortably a Championship quality player so is a weapon that Ross will want to utilise as much as possible.
Who else would you want leading the line?
Maja has been brilliant all season and will be looking to hit double figures for league goals against Gareth Ainsworth's side.