Keane insists players aren't feeling the pressure

English Championship:Sunderland boss Roy Keane will let his players do the talking as they home in on promotion back to the English Premiership.

The Black Cats head for Colchester today knowing they are tantalisingly close to clinching the top-two finish which will win back their top-flight status at the first attempt.

Wearside is buzzing at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the big boys once again, this time with the financial backing of chairman Niall Quinn's Drumaville consortium and millions of pounds with which to bankroll a new crack at the top flight.

Sunderland are unbeaten in 17 league games since the turn of the year and, while Birmingham and Derby battle it out below them, Keane insists his players aren't fazed by it all.

"There's no pressure, the players are enjoying it - you have got to enjoy it," said Keane. "We are at the top and we want to stay there. The players have made my job easy in the last few weeks. I have not been talking too much, just letting the players get on with it.

"Maybe that's the key, maybe a lot of the other managers speak too much. With the players we have, we have got a chance of winning any game."

Keane has spent much of the season to date playing down his own influence and giving the credit for a remarkable revival to his players.

Sunderland did not even climb into the play-off places until the middle of February, but 10 games on, are on the verge of sealing promotion. "The championship is a hard league to get out of. I was told that when I got the job, and it is right."

Victory at Layer Road would have seen Sunderland clinch promotion if Derby had lost at home to relegated Luton last night - however, a 1-0 victory at Pride Park means Keane and Co will have to wait.

"It is all ifs and buts and I do not like those type of conversations," said Keane. "Even if we win, we want to win the following Friday against Burnley. We have got three difficult games coming up and we will be pushed all the way. The results of the other teams are out of our control. If we win our last three games, we finish top.

"Sometimes the final step is the biggest step. We are not there yet. Being top now does not mean that much. We want to be there in two or three weeks' time when it really counts."

Keane may again shuffle his pack for today's game, which may mean a start for Grant Leadbitter - who has scored winning goals off the bench in the past two games - at the expense of midfielder Liam Miller, who is suffering from a dead leg.

Right back Danny Simpson, on loan from Old Trafford, is doubtful with a foot injury and midfielder Graham Kavanagh is out for the rest of the season with ankle trouble.

Remaining Fixtures

Today (3pm) - Barnsley v Crystal Palace, Colchester v Sunderland, Plymouth v Southend, Preston NE v Leicester, QPR v Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday v Coventry, Southampton v Leeds Utd, Stoke City v Hull City. Tomorrow (12pm) - Norwich v Ipswich, Wolverhampton v Birmingham.

Monday (7.45pm) - Burnley v West Brom. Friday, April 27th (7.45pm) - Sunderland v Burnley. Saturday, April 28th (3pm) - Barnsley v Leicester, Birmingham v Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City v Hull City, Coventry v West Brom, Leeds Utd v Ipswich, Norwich v Southampton, Plymouth v Preston NE, Southend v Luton Town, Stoke City v Colchester, Wolverhampton v QPR. Sunday, April 29th (1.30pm) - Crystal Palace v Derby.

Sunday, May 6th (1pm) - Burnley v Coventry, Colchester v Crystal Palace, Derby v Leeds Utd, Hull City v Plymouth, Ipswich v Cardiff City, Leicester v Wolverhampton, Luton Town v Sunderland, Preston NE v Birmingham, QPR v Stoke City, Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich, Southampton v Southend, West Brom v Barnsley.