Watch as our writers preview Sunderland v Newcastle United - the first Tyne-Wear derby for eight years

It's finally here. Tyne-Wear derby eve.

It's either the game you couldn't wait for, or the one you'd hoped to never see again. It's kind of black and white like that, no room for grey (or red, for that matter).

When the draw was made there looked to be light years between the famous, old rivals. One in the Championship, the other the Champions League. One fighting it out with the best on the planet, the other middling in the second tier. What a difference a few weeks makes?

WATCH: Full YouTube preview of Sunderland v Newcastle United

While Newcastle are still a division above, they're in their worst run of form in two and a half years, defeat has become the norm. While for Sunderland, the only way is up. New manager, new hope and plenty of veiled optimism, despite what their outward projections may claim. They think they will win, so, too, do Newcastle fans, even if recent form, particularly away, suggests otherwise.

This derby is not likely to disappoint, it's already had a sprinkling of madness and magic. We've seen the huge allocation, the shifting of home ticket holders, the bizarre flag display rejections, the ticket printing errors and the one to top the lot, the Black (& white) Cats Bar debacle. If as if this one needed any extra spice.

In the above video, also available on YouTube here, our NationalWorld journalists Liam Kennedy, Jordan Cronin and Dominic Scurr discuss the issues mentioned, as well as giving their take on what they heard from Eddie Howe's pre-game press conference.

We will have full derby day coverage across NewcastleWorld's website and social channels. Give our dedicated Newcastle United page a follow here - and check out all the latest NUFC news on X (formerly known as Twitter) here.