MICK McCarthy has admitted he would be in favour of a change to the current play-off system to benefit the team finishing third, but says it is not up to him to decide how the format should change.

Only three points separate Sunderland, Wigan and Ipswich at the top of the Championship table. Come May, however, one faces the nerve-jangling play-offs and the possibility of heartbreak.

Sunderland have suffered the fate twice; last season they went out to sixth-placed Crystal Palace in the two-legged semi-final, and in 1999 they lost a final thriller on penalties against fourth-placed Charlton.

Despite not being a fan of the current format, McCarthy insisted: "We all know the rules when go into a season.

"I have discussed it with different people that perhaps the team that finishes third should play their games at home or play just in the final. Maybe you could have a goal advantage or, does somebody have to beat you if you're 15 or 18 points clear? But it's for everybody else to decide, not me.

"Generally it's the team who finish third that gets knocked out the play-offs - like we did last year.

"All we can do is win our games and we'll do our best to finish first or second. We can't do any more.

"I don't want to say anything detrimental about the play-offs just in case it comes back to haunt me in six weeks if we should be the unlucky team from the top three."

The Sunderland boss revealed with the promotion race hotting up he hasn't taken the time to speak with his nearest rivals about the state of affairs at the top of the Championship - despite being big pals with both of them.

"I think it's getting too close to the bone for us to be having a discussion on the play-offs, in case anyone gave anything away," said McCarthy.

"Generally we don't see each other, although I particularly get on well with Joe (Royle) and Paul (Jewell).

"I rang Paul when Wigan got knocked out of the play-offs last year. I was devastated for him because he is a terrific guy. I saw him at a Hartlepool game recently. We kind of waved at each other across the room. Well I think we waved at each other. It could have been another hand signal."

The Black Cats face Plymouth at the Stadium of Light tonight on the back of four successive victories. Although 14th in the Championship, newly-promoted Plymouth arrive on Wearside on the back of a 5-1 win over Brighton and a recent 3-0 victory over promotion-chasing Sheffield United.

Bobby Williamson's side also gained the upper hand when the sides met at Home Park in August and won 2-1.

McCarthy believes the Pilgrims provide yet another tough test and added they have one or two players Sunderland need to be wary of.

"Plymouth have had a few changes to their line-up since we last played them," he commented. "Certainly the front pairing of Chadwick and Blackstock, who is on loan from Southampton.

"Blackstock has been playing well and Chadwick, from Everton, chases everything down. He works extremely hard, jumps into defenders and does not give them a second and they'll be a lively front pairing."

Stephen Wright, meanwhile, has been told he can carry on kicking by the Black Cats' boss just as long as he zips it.

The Sunderland defender returned to McCarthy's line-up in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Crewe after serving a two-match suspension for reaching ten cautions before February 28.

All but two of his bookings have been for what some might say was over zealous tackling.

"I got two for dissent which he doesn't like," said Wright. "He says tackle by all means and he doesn't mind if I get booked for tackling.

"I got one against Ipswich, which was in the heat of the moment, and the other was against Everton in the FA Cup.

"At the time Uriah Rennie says he booked me for a two-footed challenge, when it was only one.

"Then he said it was for dissent and I even asked Tim Cahill if would he back me up on that and he said he would.

"But Mick hasn't tried to change my style or told me to be careful, I don't think he could.

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