CHRISTIAN Bassila prepared for the visit of Premiership Champions Chelsea this weekend by revealing he wants to win another contract at the Stadium of Light, regardless of whether the club are relegated or not.

Bassila has been one of the few highlights in a nightmare season which has seen Sunderland win just once.

The Black Cats are currently ten points adrift of second-bottom Birmingham and, barring a miracle, a return to the Championship looks certain.

Bassila insists he is undaunted by the club's current plight or the task at hand and says he isn't planning to desert a sinking ship at the end of the season, should they go down.

"I signed a two-year contract and I want to bring something to Sunderland," admitted the 28-year-old midfielder. "I would like to stay because I like the North-East and I am very happy and settled here.

"I don't want to just come here, play one year and leave if the club goes down.

"If I could sign a new contract I would be happy to stay here, and that is my aim."

The Frenchman has missed the last three fixtures through injury but is available for Chelsea's visit to the Stadium of Light on Sunday after responding to treatment.

"I feel better. I had a little problem in my neck and in my back and when I sprinted I felt my hamstring a little bit, but now everything is OK and I feel much better," said Bassila, whose last game came against Bolton on Boxing Day.

"I came back from my hamstring injury not 100 per cent but that was because my back was a little disturbed

"But I have had a good rest and I am training normally and I was available for the FA Cup match last weekend."

Bassila, ironically, made his debut for the club against Saturday's opponents at Stamford Bridge and has since impressed the Sunderland faithful with his composure on the ball and the ability to break up play when under pressure.

The combative midfield man lamented his side's current luck and insisted Sunderland will be pulling out all the stops against Jose Mourinho's men at the weekend in a bid to arrest the slide.

"It is going to be a very hard game but we have nothing to lose," he acknowledged. "I think we have played well recently but we have been unlucky against Fulham and we lost a late goal against Everton in the last minute.

"It was a good win over Northwich Victoria at the weekend but our confidence has been high recently despite the results. We have to keep going and work hard."

Claude Makelele was absent when Bassila made his debut at Stamford Bridge in early September and his fellow countryman admitted he is relishing the prospect of locking horns with the £16.6m star.

He said: "I am looking forward to playing against him but I don't usually go looking to see which other players I am playing against. I'm usually more concerned about the team.

"I have never played against him before because he moved to La Liga when I was in France."

Makelele is generally perceived to be the best holding midfielder of his type in the world and Bassila admitted he is another who is a fully paid up member of the France international's fan club.

"He is a very good player and one of the best in the world, along with Steven Gerrard and Patrick Viera," said Bassila.

* Cardiff owner Sam Hammam has placed a £3.5m price tag on the head of Sunderland target Cameron Jerome after revealing he has turned down a £2m bid from Sheffield United for the England under-21 striker. Hammam insists it will take 'a top Premier League club' to sign Jerome.

Read more about Sunderland here.