IT has been billed as one of the biggest promotion parties that Sunderland has ever seen, but Roy Keane has warned his players they will not even be travelling to Luton on Sunday if their celebrations have already got the better of them.

While Derby's defeat at Crystal Palace means that promotion is already secured, the Championship title is still up for grabs at Kenilworth Road.

Provided the Black Cats beat a Luton side that has already been relegated, they will be crowned champions if Birmingham fail to take all three points at play-off chasing Preston.

Unsurprisingly, Keane is desperate to finish his maiden managerial campaign with a flourish by keeping his side of the bargain at Kenilworth Road.

And while he allowed his players to let their hair down following last weekend's confirmation of a place in the Premiership, the Irishman insists that anyone who has not been fully focused this week will not be part of the squad that travels to Luton,

"I've been watching the players in training," said Keane. "Because you can find people who get carried away with a bit of success.

"I've been watching their body language, seeing who's been doing their warm-ups properly and checking who's been listening to the message we're trying to get across.

"In this walk of life, some people can party a bit too much. If anyone's been doing that, they won't be going anywhere on Sunday. If I see that any of the lads are not quite at it because they've been celebrating, they won't be travelling. It's as simple as that.

"I'm sure one or two players will take their eye off the ball - it's human nature - and they'll be the one or two that don't play.

"There's a time to enjoy the one or two achievements you get, but I think it's important you move on quickly and I won't tolerate anything but a very good performance on Sunday. Then the players can relax and enjoy their holiday.

"With my mindset, I'm not going to Luton to party - I'm going to win a game of football. There's a chance for this club to win the Championship, and it's important we don't get away from that."

With Sunderland having lost just one league game since the turn of the year, Keane's side would certainly make fitting champions if they were to overhaul Birmingham's one-point advantage on Sunday.

While the Blues have only dropped out of the play-off places once this season, Sunderland have recovered from a shocking start to the season that saw them languishing in 19th place in the table as recently as mid-November.

Even Birmingham boss Steve Bruce admits the Black Cats would be worthy winners and, while Keane boasts Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League winners' medals from his playing career, the former Manchester United captain admits he would love to add a Championship gong to his collection.

"It would be nice to finish off the season in that way," he said. "It would be nice for the players to get a medal because I think they deserve it.

"Obviously Birmingham will have their own plans, but it would be great if we could go up as champions.

"If that can't happen, it would still be nice to win the final game of the season and finish on a high.

"We don't want to wake up on Monday looking back on a defeat or a draw. We want to win the game and, if that's enough to clinch the Championship, all well and good. If it isn't, at least we'll still have won a game."

Keane's claim that Sunderland deserve the title reveals a pride in the club's performance that has remained hidden throughout much of his reign. Praise for his own efforts has been skillfully deflected away - the Irishman still maintains his first Manager of the Month award is "in the garage" - while a run of nine wins from 11 games has elicited an easy enjoyment rather than an ecstatic response.

But he has finally begun to acknowledge the enormity of his achievement on Wearside. "I'm not sitting here trying to be dead cool about everything," he said.

"It's a fantastic achievement for everyone at the football club. "Let's not get away from where we were a few months ago. I remember walking off after being beaten at Stoke and Ipswich as if it was yesterday.

"We were 4-0 down at Preston after 40-odd minutes, so there have been mountains for us to climb.

"It's hard to pick out defining moments along the way, but there have obviously been one or two.

"Coming from 2-1 down to beat Burnley last Friday was a big one because it put things back in our hands. Scoring an injury-time winner at home to Derby was big, and getting back to 2-2 at Burnley after we were 2-0 down was massively important.

"When I look back, there were two or three turning points when things started to swing our way. Let's hope there's one last one this weekend."

Danny Collins has been named in the Wales squad for this month's friendly with New Zealand