GUS POYET has geared up for a date with Chelsea by dreaming of the day Sunderland can head into a fixture with the Premier League leaders expecting to secure a positive result.

After a hard-earned point at struggling Leicester City, the Black Cats’ attentions turn to the visit of Jose Mourinho’s Blues this weekend when Poyet knows all about the challenge facing his players.

Chelsea are yet to lose in the top-flight this season, winning ten and drawing two of their 12 games, and have built up a healthy gap at the top before December.

Sunderland have won their last two games against Chelsea since Poyet took over and narrowly lost 4-3 last December; results which hearten the Uruguayan.

“It’s true that we don’t have anything to lose against Chelsea,” said the former Stamford Bridge favourite. ”But I want to take that away from Sunderland, and I don't want us to feel we are OK and that it is OK to lose to Chelsea.

“It doesn't matter who you play against, and we need to stop thinking we are OK and that we have got enough points. We need to play every game as an opportunity to win - until we instil that mentality in every single player and person at the club it is going to be difficult to aim higher, top ten.

“We will need desire, organisation, to take the ball from them when we can, and the players like to play well against Chelsea. They are one of the top teams, everybody is watching and you need to be careful.”

Sunderland had a couple of half decent chances at Leicester, with Steven Fletcher denied twice by Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Having avoided defeat at the King Power Stadium, Poyet is keen for progress to continue after picking up five points from the last available nine.

He said: “It will be difficult to go and play Chelsea, but the mentality and the understanding is back. We should go into the game with our strength, and we know Chelsea are the best team in the league.

“They are unbeaten and it is going to be difficult, but it is about wanting to play and then concentrating on Manchester City and Liverpool after that. We are defending well, apart from that awful day we had at Southampton.

“From now on until the end of the season every team Chelsea face will want to beat them. Every team is going to be trying to be the one to beat them first, and we now have that opportunity. There are plenty of things you need to be to be very good at on the day, but we have done it in the past and we can do it again.”