STEWART DOWNING knows how important a positive result can be as Boro look to secure Premier League status in tomorrow's Tees-Wear derby.

The England international enjoyed a highly successful loan spell at the Stadium of Light in 2003 and knows how important it is to silence the crowd early.

"We've still left ourselves with a task of getting safe and it's up to us to put that to bed on Saturday.

"It's a huge game because they will be scrapping for the points too but I'm confident we can do the business.

"I had a good loan spell there with them, they will certainly be pumped for the game and the crowd will make it a great atmosphere.

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"They'll be up for it, Roy Keane will have them primed and it's up to us to silence them early on."

Both teams suffered poor defeats last weekend and neither is yet guaranteed safety.

"They, like us, were disappointing, so both sides will want to prove something to themselves as well as the fans," says Downing.

"We shouldn't be in this position at all but we have to get on with it. Teams around the bottom have to play each other, which should be helpful to us.

"But we are looking to go and win our last three games and finish as high as possible.

"If we beat Sunderland, we should be more or less safe.

"I'll be a tough game but we're looking forward to it and I'm sure it'll be an entertaining game."