David Moyes has called on Sunderland's players to use their experience of escaping relegation in past seasons to preserve their Premier League status again.
The Black Cats are rooted to the foot of the table with just 11 games remaining and face another scramble for safety, something they have safely negotiated in each of the last four seasons.
Moyes is entering new territory as he prepares for the scrap, but he is keeping his fingers crossed that his players can once again pull off last-gasp heroics in a similar fashion to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Moyes told Sunderland's official website: "This is the time of the season you need your players to come into form and show what they are capable of.
"Players at the top peak at the right time to win leagues or win cups, and Manchester United had a great habit under Sir Alex of timing that well.
"I think Sunderland have got that great habit of timing it well so that they aren't relegated. We don't want to be in this position, but we are here and we need to use every bit of experience we have got to get out of it.
"We have been in this position before and I'm hoping the experience of being in this position will make us better and help us with this run-in."
Sunderland are without a game this weekend and face Burnley on March 18 in their next Premier League fixture.