Sebastian Larsson admits Sunderland could be sucked into a relegation battle if they lose to QPR.

Sunderland currently sit 10 points ahead of QPR and six above the drop zone but defeat at Loftus Road this weekend could drag Sunderland back into the relegation battle.

Larsson said: "You want to look up the table and aim to climb it. The possibility is there to do just that, especially if we beat QPR. If we win and head home, feeling satisfied with the performance, it will be great for our confidence but in the back of our minds, we will still know that a few bad results and you are right back in it again so we have to keep focused.

"If we lose, we will have no option to look below us in the table because defeat could see the bottom teams closing the gap on us. If we lose and those teams under us win, then we are right in the relegation mix. You cannot deny it. You have to realise that and accept the situation you are in.

"It is a defining weekend, but you could have said that about the last few weekends and the ones coming up as well. That is the way it has gone. We have not had the best of runs lately, especially points-wise. But it is a strange season. We only drew at home to Fulham but actually climbed the table. It is a funny league."