Middlesbrough will enjoy their first Premier League road trip in eight years on Sunday, but the journey will only be a short one up the A19 to face neighbours Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Sundays face-off will be the first Wear-Tees derby since 2012 and first league meeting between the two clubs since 2009. However, even at this early stage of the season, the result could have far-reaching consequences for two teams amongst the favourites for relegation.Sunderland only narrowly avoided going down a division last season, finishing just a place and two points above relegated rivals Newcastle. The Black Cats have since lost manager Sam Allardyce to the England national team job.In contrast, Middlesbrough achieved automatic promotion with a second-place finish in the Championship. They have managed to not only keep their highly-rated manager Aitor Karanka, but also strengthen the squad significantly during the summer transfer window.A derby match in the second week of their top-flight return poses a real test of Boros Premier League credentials, but vice-captain George Friend believes the fixture also offers an opportunity.I dont feel any extra pressure in having the derby match so early in the season… if anything it is a good game for us, because as players you relish these derby ties, Friend said.They are tough games because they are probably a bit more frantic and played in a big atmosphere, but well go there with loads of confidence and knowing we have to raise our levels and be at our best. When you step up a division you have to do that, raise the bar, and there is nothing like a derby match to make sure you do that.Boro drew 1-1 with Stoke City on the opening day of the season. Star signing Alvaro Negredo opened his account for the club by finishing a chance produced by fellow summer addition Gaston Ramirez (who completed a permanent move from Southampton after excelling on loan at the club in the second half of last season).However, Marten de Roon -- another high-profile acquisition -- suffered a hamstring injury in the game and is unlikely to feature against Sunderland. Defenders Daniel Ayala, Bernardo Espinosa and James Husband are expected to miss out through injury and club captain Grant Leadbitter remains sidelined with an inguinal hernia.Sunderland go into the game on the back of a disappointing but encouraging 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. They look likely to be without the services of experienced centre-back Younes Kaboul after the Wearside club agreed a fee with Watford for the players transfer. The loss of Kaboul comes as a blow to a squad with already limited defensive resources.Further forward in the team there is a greater strength in depth, with new boss David Moyes bringing in Manchester Uniteds Adnan Januzaj on loan to add a spark to the attack. Januzaj emerged at United during Moyes tenure at Old Trafford, but has since fallen away from regular first-team contention and is relishing the opportunity to play Premier League matches again at Sunderland.The manager has given me the opportunity to come here and prove myself again, Januzaj told the clubs official website. I came here to play games and Im looking forward to working with David Moyes again.I always enjoy playing in his teams with the freedom and the confidence he gives me.Januzaj may be limited to an impact role given the high intensity nature of the fixture and his recent arrival at the club, but will be expected to come on during the second half. However, Moyes wont have the same luxury with Sebastian Larsson, as the creative midfielder is out until early 2017 due to a knee ligament injury.Defensive midfield is also a concern for the Sunderland boss, with Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff both struggling with shorter-term injury issues.Moyes, however, will be looking to draw on the positive record he had against Middlesbrough during his time at Everton -- losing to Boro just twice in 14 total meetings.Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys China .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Cheap Chiefs Jerseys China .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Cheap Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Cheap Chiefs Jerseys Authentic .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win.Scotland defence coach Matt Taylor says incoming boss Gregor Townsend should follow the blueprint of predecessor Vern Cotter.Glasgow coach Townsend takes over from the Kiwi next summer after the SRU confirmed Cotters contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the 2017 Six Nations.Taylor works closely with both men - assisting Townsend at Glasgow while also helping Cotter prepare the Dark Blues - and believes the latter has put Scotland on the path to success Im lucky enough that Im in the Scotland set-up under Vern but also work with Gregor at Glasgow, said Australian-born Taylor who will remain Townsends No 2 with the national side.There hasnt been a formal plan drawn up [to ensure a smooth transition] but I know Gregor is on the phone to Vern a lot and they talk about different things. Vern Cotter will bow out at the end of the 2017 Six Nations I report back to Gregor too and tell him what were doing here in the Scotland camp and how were doing it. He recently said to me to make a note of anything that works well so we can continue with it going forward.Gregor is very detailed in his coaching so he is very conscious of things that work well and things that can be improved on. I would imagine he is only thinking about making small adaptations rather than wholesale changes.He will want to put his own spin on things as all new coaches do but hed be crazy to change everything, because were doing reasonably well. So there will be things that change, but also things that stay the same. Matt Taylor will join Townsend in the Scotland set-up next year Townsend could be left with a nasty hangover of the Cotter era, however, should Scotland lose out to Argentina on Saturday.ddddddddddddScotland - ranked ninth in the world, one place behind the Pumas - can overtake them with a win at Murrayfield. Defeat, however, could have a knock-on effect for their World Cup seeding hopes.The draw for Japan 2019 takes place next May and governing body World Rugby will use the rankings to calculate the seeding for the pool stage. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price If Scotland end up outside the top eight, they face the daunting prospect of having to overcome two major nations to make the quarter-finals.But Taylor said: We have talked about winning and the processes we need to win, but we havent said we need to win because of our ranking. We know in the back of our minds its important but so is winning every Test match.Youre right to say this game has more importance in that sense but does that add pressure by saying that to the players? Were not preparing any less but of course we understand it. Were just looking to win first and foremost. Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price!Also See:Rugby on SkyFollow @SkySportsRugbyPunditsFixtures and results ' ' '