Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill says they'll take their FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough seriously.

O'Neill is to play his strongest side as the teams battle for the right to face Arsenal in the Fifth Round next week.

And O'Neill is expecting his XI to undergo a stern examination at the hands of a Boro side who he says will still pose a big threat despite recent injury problems.

"We will go there as strong as we possibly can; obviously the FA Cup is a very important competition for the football club and its supporters," he told safc.com.

"I know Middlesbrough have had some injury problems but that was the case before they played us in the first game and it didn't affect them at all.

"They played very, very well against us at the Stadium of Light and I expect exactly the same again."