Fabio Borini has highlighted the importance of this weekend's Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United.

Borini and his Black Cats teammates, who sit 17th on the Premier League table, take on the second-bottom Magpies at St James' Park on Sunday in what is one of the most important North East derbies in recent memory.

"It probably is [the biggest derby in recent years] because of the position both teams are in," Borini told the club's official website.

"There is now a gap between the bottom four and the other teams so it makes it even more important, because we understand the gap is getting bigger and every week there are less games until the end.

"It is getting harder to catch the other teams up but this derby won't be decisive because there are eight games after, but it can give us a push and be a big help to us."

Sunderland have won the past six meetings between the arch rivals with Newcastle's last victory coming in August 2011.