Four changes from Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler after last week’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.
The Seagulls have a new-look centre-back partnership in Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola, with Lewis Dunk suspended and Jan Paul van Hecke an unexpected absentee.
Brighton are also without Diego and Carlos Baleba, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Gruda, Rutter, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Ayari, Wieffer, De Cuyper, Coppola.
Subs: Steele, Watson, Kostoulas, Milner, Mitoma, Veltman, Knight, Simmonds, Oriola.
Regis Le Bris also makes four changes from Sunderland’s derby win against Newcastle.
Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava and Bertrand Traore have all headed to Afcon with their respective nations.
Lutsharel Geertruida, Chris Rigg, Trai Hume and former Brighton winger Simon Adingra are the replacements.
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Ballard, Geertruida, Brobbey, Rigg, Alderete, Mukiele, Adingra, Le Fee, Hume, Xhaka.
Subs: Patterson, Cirkin, Neil, Mayenda, Mundle, Isidor, Diarra, Hjelde, Jones.
