MICK McCARTHY believes attracting the next generation of Sunderland fans outweighs the importance of overcoming Arsenal and going far in the Carling Cup this season.

An unprecedented, and welcomed, pricing policy by the Stadium of Light hierarchy for tonight's third round clash with the Gunners has ensured the Black Cats will play in front of their first sell-out of the season.

Children have been able to snap up tickets for the game for just £1 while adults have also made the most of the slashed £5 admission price - with fewer than 500 tickets remaining last night.

That means there will be 48,000 supporters inside the Wearside arena for tonight's game, a fixture that would normally struggle to see 20,000 through the turnstiles.

McCarthy will use the game to rest a few of the players who started the defeat to Newcastle on Sunday, believing Saturday's Premiership encounter with Portsmouth is far more important.

But the Sunderland boss realises a rare opportunity for his squad to play inside a full house at home - where they have averaged around 32,000 so far this season - will give the whole place a lift.

"Players are excited by a full house, they're encouraged and play better because of it. They enjoy the noise and the buzz and the surround sound," said McCarthy, remembering the first game he went to as a child was a Yorkshire derby between Barnsley and Sheffield United.

"It's a better feeling to play in it as opposed to Cheltenham (in round two) when there were 13,000 there. There'll be a lot of kids coming for the first time and I sincerely hope they enjoy themselves, more so in a full house.

"I remember going with my Uncle Brian to my first match, standing on the terraces with coal under my feet. I enjoyed my first night match, the hustle, the bustle, the smells, the feel of that match, it's exciting.

"We'd love to be in the draw for the next round, but with the greatest respect to the competition in the bigger scheme of things we've a more important game against Portsmouth on Saturday, who are also scrapping.

"It's going to be a relegation dogfight between two of the eight or ten teams at the bottom, that's the way it's going to be."

Reducing prices in an attempt to increase the number of spectators is a bold move and one which could start a trend at a time when attendances up and down the country are on the decline.

Only last week Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson spoke of his determination not to follow the lead set by Sunderland for the Teesside club's UEFA Cup games against Dnipro and Litex Lovech - games expected be watched by fewer than 20,000.

And a diplomatic McCarthy refused to be drawn on whether extremely cheap tickets is the way to go. "It's not something I'm involved in, the pricing. I can see it both ways," he said.

"If clubs aren't going out spending then fans are not happy about it. Then if they are spending where does it come from, unless you are Roman Abramovich?

"It's not something on my agenda, but this game has been a fantastic PR exercise. In my view there's no point having 9,000 in for this game, let's have 45,000 in sold cheaply. It's fantastic."

Despite McCarthy's insistence that Saturday is more important, Sunderland's chances have increased with the news Arsenal will field a weakened team.

Captain Thierry Henry has been left out of the squad, along with fellow Frenchman Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and midfielder Gilberto Silva.

There is a place in the 18-man squad for former goalkeeper Mart Poom, who left Wearside on loan in the summer, and striker Stephen Elliott wouldn't mind scoring against his old team-mate.

Elliott scored his second sensational goal in as many games during the defeat at Newcastle on Sunday and is happy to be back on the goal trail.

But while the 21-year-old Irishman is relieved and happy to be finding the net again he also wants to see Sunderland picking up the wins that will secure Premiership survival.

"It is one of the best goals I have scored," said Elliott, recalling the moment he struck a sweet 25-yard shot into Shay Given's top right corner at St James' Park.

"The one last week was good (against Manchester United). They were both good goals but what you feel is disappointment because we have lost both games.

"It will be a big game for us. We think the fans will give us a good reception. We and they are devastated at losing but if you see how much effort we put into the game, I don't think they will be too hard on us."