Millwall were the last opponents for the Blades, the game was played at Bramall Lane and United won 2-1. Ashley Ward scored on 58 minutes while Andy Gray added the second four minutes later. Paul Ifill struck later on for the Lions but the Blades hung on for a deserved win.
The Blades have no more than six players out after being cup-tied, defensive duo Colin Cryan and Ashley Sestanovich were involved in Scarborough's FA Cup heroics which ended against Chelsea.
Paul Shaw and Carl Robinson will also miss out while new signings Sasa Ilic and Andy Gray will have to watch from the sidelines.
Super Jack Lester has recovered from a knee in jury and after sitting on bench during that win on Tuesday could be promoted alongside Ashley Ward upfront while Chris Morgan (knee) and Alan Wright (ankle) are expected to be fit and play some part in the game.
Despite a minor foot injury which kept Peter Ndlovu out of the sixteen man squad that faced Millwall he is expected to recover and start at the Stadium of Light, while Stuart McCall or Mark Rankine will replace the cup-tied Robinson.
On Wednesday Sunderland travelled to Bescot Stadium where they faced Walsall. The Visitors took an early lead thanks to Julio Acra before Neil Emblem levelled things up on 53 though Kevin Kyle restored the lead while Marcus Stewart made sure of the win 9 minutes from time.
Former Rotherham United striker Darren Byfield is cup-tied for the Black Cats, but manager Mick McCarthy is worried about the fitness of key players Gary Breen and Stephen Wright ahead of Sunday's game.
Republic of Ireland international Breen dropped out of the side that beat Walsall with a knee injury but the Barnsley born boss believes Breen will be fit while Wright has a slight chance of recovering from a calf strain.
Despite suffering a dead leg Scottish international Kevin Kyle will start, but Joachim Bjórklund is suspended.
* Should this game be drawn level at 90 minutes then a replay would be played on Tuesday 16th March or Wednesday 17th March 2004 with a 7:45pm kick-off at Bramall Lane. United are due to play Rotherham United at Millwall that day, this game would therefore be postponed should a replay occur.
Man in the Middle: Referee for the Black Cats v Blades game will be Steve Dunn from Bristol (Gloucestershire), he refereed the game in September when Sheffield United became the first side to win at Wimbledon at there new National Hockey Stadium in that 2-1 win.
This season Mr. Dunn has been in charge of 20 games in which five red cards have been shown while 59 yellow cards were dished out.
SUNDERLAND V SHEFFIELD UNITED
|
| FA Cup Record v Black Cats | ||||||
Venue | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| Bramall Lane | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Stadium of Light | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
Football Fixtures (Saturday): Nationwide League Division One: Burnley v Preston North End, Crystal Palace v Reading, Gillingham v Nottingham Forest, Rotherham United v Bradford City, Sheffield United P-P Derby County, Stoke City v Watford, West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City, West Ham United v Walsall, Wigan Athletic v Crewe Alexandra, Wimbledon P-P Sunderland. FA Cup Quarter-Finals: Manchester United v Fulham, Portsmouth v Arsenal.
Football Fixtures (Sunday): FA Cup Quarter-Finals: Millwall v Tranmere Rovers, Sunderland v Sheffield United.