SUNDERLAND'S crop of European hopefuls have been reminded by cautious manager Mick McCarthy that they have achieved nothing yet.

Should the Black Cats overcome an FA Cup semi-final date with either Millwall or Tranmere on April 4 then there is every likelihood that a spot in the UEFA Cup will be secured next season.

The other two teams in the last four - Manchester United and Arsenal - are on course to claim their regular Champions League places they have now become accustomed to.

That means a back route into Europe will be claimed by whichever Nationwide League team reaches the final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - regardless of whether they win or lose.

Sunderland also have eyes on promotion to the Premiership and they start a vital period in Division One when they take on Preston North End tonight at the Stadium of Light.

It is the first of six home games in an eight match spell for McCarthy's men as they look to strengthen their chances of claiming a place in the top two, which the boss has set his sights on.

And the Sunderland chief, whose side's defeat to Millwall in mid-August was their only home league reversal of the campaign, is trying to ensure that his in-form players do not suffer any FA Cup hangover this evening.

"I'm not a psychologist or a mind reader.

"I can't guarantee that my lads will not go off the wall," said McCarthy, whose team face West Ham on Saturday and then Stoke on Tuesday.

"I always feel there's a danger when people talk about good results that it is a surefire way to get brought down to earth after it.

''I'm not coming in here and trying to be a hard-nosed, miserable get who doesn't enjoy it - I loved it on Sunday, winning that game.

"We have not won anything. Reaching a final would be great but ultimately we want to win promotion.

"We have an opportunity to get into the final and that's all we have got.

"It's a big week for us. Three home games against teams who are either above, around or just below us. It's vital that we pick up the points.

"I don't see how reaching the semi-final should change them. The players have done really well since we lost all the so-called stars of this club.

"It's a huge month. It's perhaps unfortunate that the games are coming as they are but the league placings are going to be determined by home records. That will determine our fate."

On Friday, March 12, McCarthy celebrates a year in charge on Wearside and the biggest turning point in his short time in the North East was when Sunderland played Preston earlier this season.

Having lost 17 league matches in a row, the Black Cats were on course to equal a 104-year-old record of 18 consecutive defeats held by little Lancashire club Darwen.

But a goal each from Marcus Stewart and Sean Thornton ensured victory at Deepdale and Sunderland's wish of avoiding an unwanted record was granted.

McCarthy said: "It was the most important victory for me, the fans and everyone connected with the club. Nobody wanted that defeat. It was the first win and an unlikely win in a lot of eyes at the time."

And ahead of tonight's rearranged meeting, he added: "I don't worry about the opposition. It's how we perform and when we play as well as we can we are a match for them and anyone else.

"We have got to try to catch the top two. We have got to play them (Norwich and West Brom) here and we have to try to aim for the stars and get in there. If we get in the play-offs we have to fancy our chances."

Argentine Julio Arca is ruled out of tonight's meeting after suffering knee ligament damage in the FA Cup success over Sheffield United.

But McCarthy said: "We are hoping he'll be out for a maximum of two weeks. There is no tear in it.