SUNDERLAND might have moved to within touching distance of the top-flight this week, but Stephen Caldwell has warned his team-mates to guard against the complacency that could still scupper their Premiership dreams.

Tuesday night's 1-0 win at promotion rivals Wigan left the Black Cats eight points clear of the play-off zone with five games to go.

With three of those at the Stadium of Light, this month's trips to Ipswich and West Ham could be rendered irrelevant if Mick McCarthy's side take maximum points from their home games.

Reading visit Wearside on Saturday and, with Leicester and Stoke also still to travel to the North-East, it would be a massive surprise if Sunderland did not convert their current superiority into a Premiership place.

Caldwell, who celebrated with his team-mates at the end of Tuesday's game, is wise enough to know that nothing has been achieved yet.

But, after helping his side keep their 17th clean sheet of the Championship season at the JJB Stadium, the centre-half is confident his team-mates will not take their eye off the ball at the most crucial stage of the campaign.

"I don't think we're going to suffer from complacency," said Caldwell, who has missed just five league games all season. "I don't think the manager, the staff or the players will let that happen.

"We know it's a danger and, if we do lose some games, people will say we thought we've got the job done.

"But our minds are fully focused and we're determined to finish what we've started.

"We're confident. We've been confident since August because we always felt we could go up.

"We know we've got the players to go up, but we're not over-confident and we're not going to get cocky or complacent.

"We know that hard work has got us to where we are and, if we maintain that, we feel we're the best team in the league and we'll go up.

"We've had a few off days at places where we were expected to win, so we're going to make sure we're on our game and looking forward to Saturday."

Since making his debut against Crewe in the second game of the season, Caldwell has developed a defensive partnership with Gary Breen that has formed the bedrock of Sunderland's promotion push.

In tandem with full-backs Stephen Wright and George McCartney, the pair have turned the Black Cats into the most secure side in the league.

Tuesday night's display at Wigan, in which Caldwell helped to neuter both Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington, was as good as anything Sunderland's defence have produced all season.

After experiencing life in the top-flight with both Newcastle and Leeds, the Scotland international is confident his fellow defenders have what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

"We feel we've got a really strong defence, and strong cover," said Caldwell. "We always knew that, after a shaky start where we were learning each other's game, we were going to get it together and form a good back four.

"The lads who have come in have done excellent jobs as well. This is a squad thing and everybody has contributed.

"It's been very pleasing and I've enjoyed playing with everybody I've played with at the back.

"I certainly want to prove myself in the Premiership again and get another chance to play there.

"I know Breeny's played there, George has played there, and Wrighty's played there as well.

"We've all got experience of Premiership football and I'm sure we want to play more of it."

While Roberts and Ellington have scored 42 goals between them this term, Caldwell will find himself up against a different class of striker should Sunderland achieve promotion.

The likes of Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy will pose their own unique problems but, after spending six seasons on Tyneside, the 24-year-old is looking forward to coming up against one former team-mate with particular relish.

"I saw the news that Alan (Shearer) was playing on last week," said Caldwell. "It was pleasing to think I might be playing against him."

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