SUNDERLAND boss Ricky Sbragia has rested a number of his key performers for this afternoon's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Blackburn Rovers.

David Healy and Michael Chopra start up front, with neither Kenwyne Jones nor Djibril Cisse featuring in the Black Cats starting XI.

There are also significant changes in midfield, with Grant Leadbitter, Andy Reid and Steed Malbranque replacing Dean Whitehead, El-Hadji Diouf and the suspended Teemu Tainio from the side that lost to Everton last weekend.

Leadbitter, who is making only his fourth start of the season, takes over the captain's armband.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has adopted a markedly different approach, as Rovers are effectively at full strength as they attempt to reach the fifth round.

Roque Santa Cruz will partner Benni McCarthy in attack, with the likes of Morten Gamst Pedersen, Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen all included in Blackburn's starting line-up.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, Bardsley, Edwards, Leadbitter, Reid, Malbranque, Chopra, Healy.

Subs: Colgan, McCartney, Cisse, Diouf, Murphy, Jones, Yorke.

BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Olsson, Mokoena, Grella, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy.

Subs: Bunn, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Villanueva, Givet, Haworth.

** READ A FULL REPORT AND ANALYSIS FROM TODAY'S GAME IN MONDAY'S NORTHERN ECHO **