JERMAIN DEFOE might be an East London boy at heart but the excitement of the Wear-Tyne derby is not lost on him, so much so that he would have fancied being inside the Stadium of Light tomorrow even if he wasn’t a player.

Defoe has played in numerous duels between Tottenham and Arsenal and is aware of the intensity of a Premier League derby, but is expecting something different from a North-East affair.

He had become a fan of the Sunderland-Newcastle fixture before he moved from Toronto in January because he remembered watching the Black Cats’ two most recent victories at St James’ Park.

“It was when Jonno (Adam Johnson) scored the winner (in December), and the one when Paolo (Di Canio) ran down the line (two years ago). I don’t know how he didn’t tear his suit!” said Defoe.

“The reaction, even in the one where Jonno scored, when the camera panned to the bench, with the manager and the staff ... it’s a different game. The way the lads are talking, it’s hard to find words to express the feeling of winning games like that.”

Defoe did not have much luck against Arsenal. His only goal arrived in November 2004 when he scored a fine individual goal when he glided past Cesc Fabregas and Patrick Vieira before curling a finish beyond Jens Lehmann when Tottenham were 3-1 down.

But the 32-year-old said: “It’s different to the build-up to a North London derby, but in a good way. People have been nice.

“People have come up to me and asked if I’m looking forward to the derby. It’s nice because it makes you look forward to it more. It means so much to the people up here.

“If I wasn’t a player, if I was just a fan, do you honestly think I wouldn’t have a ticket? I’d be so excited for the game but I’m lucky, I’m a player, and I’m playing in the game.”

If Defoe has struggled to find the net against Arsenal over the years, he has not had such problems against Newcastle. He has scored six and he can’t wait to try to add to his collection.

“I have scored for West Ham, Spurs ... I hope it can continue at the weekend,” said Defoe, who has only scored more against Wigan, Blackburn and Charlton than he has against the Magpies.

“I’ll be treating it like any other game but I know, come Sunday morning, you’ll wake up and just feel it because it’s derby day.

“To win the game and give our fans the satisfaction that when they go into work they’ll be able to look at the Newcastle fans and say, ‘that’s five (consecutive) games we’ve beaten Newcastle.’ If they’re saying that on Sunday night, I’ll be delighted.”

Newcastle have beaten Sunderland five times before but never has it happened the other way around.

Defoe said: “There’s a pressure on Newcastle to win it. If you turn it around, they’ve lost four so going into the fifth game, they’ll be thinking, ‘if they beat us again that’s five,’ especially in such an important game, so I believe they have to come out and try to win.

“I suppose there’s pressure on both teams. It’s not just a normal game. We need the points and a fixture like this is the one the fans look for. It is a lot of pressure but we know the reward is so big and the three points are so important you have to give everything.”

The bigger picture for Sunderland is the fact that they could be in the bottom three by the time kick-off comes around.

Defoe said: “It’s not been easy but you just have to get on with it. You still have to stay positive because one game can change everything. You might not score for six or seven games then score a few goals and you’re confident again.

“I suppose it’s about staying positive and confident and hopefully you’ll get a good chance again and get the three points.

“They’re all massive games now and this is a special one. I really, really want to win this one.”