IT'S almost derby time again. On Thursday, at the Academy of Light, Martin O'Neill was in good form, delivering jokes in a way only Martin O'Neill can and he helped set the tone for Sunday's latest Tyne & Wear match-up.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has been adding to that this afternoon, whetting the appetite for an occasion that has got the region gripped. It's almost time to tune in again and let's hope it's the football that hits the headlines. 

Pardew and O'Neill have already made their peace after their March madness which caused more of a stir than Stephane Sessegnon's sending off, Lee Cattermole's red card after the final whistle or Newcastle goalkeeper coach Andy Woodman being sent to the stands.

The game, actually, ended in a draw. Remember? A missed penalty, a late equaliser from Shola Ameobi to cancel out Nicklas Bendtner's opener. That's the one.

It was the first time the two managers had gone head-to-head in a Sunderland-Newcastle meeting and it's safe to assume it left them clear on what the occasion can be like.

With a crowd approaching 48,000 creating an atmosphere those involved are unlikley to forget this Sunday, the latest fixture is unlikely to pass without incident either.

But whatever happens on the pitch, the rival fans should try to remember that  the Tyne-Wear derby can be one of the most exciting around - so don't spoil it by allowing passions to spill over and go that step too far.

This Sunday will be different to previous encounters at the Stadium of Light. It will be the first time Newcastle fans have been sat high in the North Stand rather than on the touchline at the opposite end of the pitch.

It will be a test for security and police, but hopefully the 146th meeting between the two old rivals will pass without the sort of incident such meetings have become known for off the pitch.

It's a big enough game as it is, so the football should be enjoyed and savoured on one of those afternoons when the memories are never likely to disappear.

There are only two points separating the two clubs, with Newcastle having played a game more.

There's plenty at stake, just look at the effects of the same fixture last season when Sunderland ended up sacking Steve Bruce and Newcastle went on to finish fifth in the Premier League.  The impact of winning and losing a derby can roll for the long term.

I'm not a Newcastle fan, nor am I a Sunderland fan. But as a fan of North-East football, the Wear-Tyne derby (or Tyne-Wear if you're going to be like that)  is worth cherishing and enjoying for what it is. So don't ruin it.