RAFAEL BENITEZ has refused to get drawn into mind games with Sunderland counterpart Sam Allardyce ahead of another crucial round of fixtures in the Premier League relegation run-in.

The Newcastle United boss, who has had a number of feuds with Allardyce over the years, is trying to ensure his players are in the right frame of mind ahead of tomorrow’s return of Alan Pardew and his Crystal Palace team to St James’ Park.

Allardyce had suggested in his pre-match press conference yesterday that Palace’s players will have been ‘on the pop’ since sealing a FA Cup final place against Manchester United and that he would put a bet on the Magpies winning if he could.

But Benitez said: “I don’t bet. Obviously I agree we have to win. My experience is that it's the players who make the difference not the managers, I can prepare for the game but to talk about mind games and press conferences, I don't take too much notice.

“They (Sunderland/Norwich) are in a better position than us for sure, but if we can win this then we will have more confidence, belief and we can approach that Aston Villa game confident. The main one is this one. I am just looking at this game and see after that.”

Newcastle are still without skipper Fabricio Coloccini and right-back Daryl Janmaat. Coloccini will struggle to figure in any of the remaining three matches, while Janmaat should return to full training next week.

Benitez’s side trail Norwich and Sunderland, who have both played a game less, by a point ahead of tomorrow’s fixtures and a home game against Crystal Palace is seen as a huge opportunity to climb out of the drop zone.

The fixture is more intriguing because Pardew will be back on Tyneside for the first time since his departure in January last year.

Benitez said: “Everybody knows what it means to play in that final (FA Cup). When you are there you have to be careful, I don’t see any player saying ‘I don’t care about the final’. I am sure they will be thinking about it.

“But they will give everything and we have to give everything. We have to make sure we are focused on that. Palace are more or less safe, you do the maths, but more or less they are safe. For me they are safe.

“Palace were doing well in the beginning. I saw games when I was away, they are a good team and the play a good counter attack. It is a good team. Results can be affected with confidence at times but they are a good team.”