Roy Keane will pitch himself into battle with Mark Hughes tomorrow tipping his former Manchester United team-mate to make it big as a manager, while he also singled out Nyron Nosworthy for special praise.
Two of the most combative players of their respective generations will take to the dug-outs at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland and Blackburn contest three precious Barclays Premier League points.
Hughes, 43, collected two Premiership titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup during more than 12 years in two spells at Old Trafford, and established a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers of his day.
Keane's United medal haul was even more impressive, amounting to seven league titles and four FA Cups, and he only missed out on a Champions League crown through suspension.
They spent two seasons together working under Alex Ferguson before Hughes was sold to Chelsea for £1.5million in July 1995, and Keane admits a softly-spoken man, who was transformed into a warrior when he walked on to the pitch, was not the leading candidate to make the step into management.
He said: ‘You never knew with Sparky because he was fairly quiet until he crossed that white line.
‘He got on the road of going through Wales and did a very good job there. I wouldn't say I was shocked that Sparky became a manager because you never know. Some lads are different.
‘In that dressing room, we always talked about Bryan Robson becoming a manager and Steve Bruce.
‘Sparky was always a quiet one, but always taking it in and it's no surprise that he is doing very, very well.
‘He was a top player and I was grateful to have played with him. He is proving to be a top manager and I am sure that will continue.’
Keane invested more than £35million this summer in an effort to rebuild for the challenge of life in the top flight, and having seen how difficult that was, he has admitted his admiration at Hughes' ability to assemble his squad without spending what he calls ‘crazy money’.
He said: ‘I saw them last year in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and they were unlucky not to get to the final, and there have been another one or two close shaves for them.
‘Sparky has got that bit of experience and clearly that hunger to do as good a job as a manager as he did as a player. If that turns out to be, let me tell you, he will be a hell of a manager.’
Tomorrow's game sees the side currently sitting in 15th place in the table entertaining the occupants of 10th with just a single point separating them.
Rovers returned to winning ways in midweek with a 3-0 Carling Cup victory over Birmingham following successive defeats by Larissa and Portsmouth.
Having already bowed out of the competition, Sunderland had a free week, but Keane insists that will be no advantage unless they make it so.
He said: ‘We have done reasonably well at home so far and it's a game we are looking forward to.
‘They have had another midweek game, so if there is any element of tiredness, we have got to try to take advantage of that.
‘But I do believe with the squad they have and the modern player, they should be more than capable of adapting to three games in six or seven days.’
Keane's efforts are being hampered by an injury list which shows few signs of abating with Andy Cole yet to make his senior debut because of a calf problem and Kieran Richardson, Carlos Edwards and skipper Dean Whitehead among the long-term absentees.
In addition, midfielder Dickson Etuhu is suspended after reaching five bookings for the season in the 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough last weekend.
Meanwhile, Keane has praised the character of crowd favourite Nyron Nosworthy for forcing his way into his plans.
The 26-year-old defender found himself out in the cold last season after Keane had taken over at the helm and set about assessing his squad.
However, as several of the players inherited from Mick McCarthy were shown the door Nosworthy worked his way back into contention and the former Gillingham player established himself as a key member of the side which won the Coca-Cola Championship title last season.
Even more impressive was his conversion from right-back to central defender which has reinvigorated his career on Wearside and earned him cult status.
Nosworthy missed the derby trip to Middlesbrough last weekend with a knee injury and has only a 50-50 chance of resuming against Blackburn tomorrow.
However, Keane has been hugely impressed by a man whose future at the club looked bleak a little more than a year ago.
'Nyron has been a big plus since I got the job. In my first month's training, I don't think he trained with the first team,' said Keane .
'I spoke to him and told him I had to look at certain things and he was as good as gold.
'He kept his head down and trained away with the young kids and the reserves and when he got his chance, he took it and has probably started in the team ever since.
'He was a right-back and we asked him to do a job last year for us at centre-half and he did very well.
'The fans have stuck to him. He tries the odd trick here and there - the fans like to see that in a player - and they certainly appreciate his efforts.'
