Sunderland must finish the job at Morecambe this lunchtime after working to ensure their play-off fate is in their own hands going into the final day of the season. The Black Cats head to the Mazuma Stadium knowing victory will see them clinch a top six finish under their own steam and avoid a potentially nervy wait to discover how their play-off rivals have fared.
Neil's side goes into the game at Morecambe on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run which saw them hit form and gather momentum at just the right time, and he says he has not detected any nerves this week in the lead-up to the final game. "I don't sense any nerves," he said.
"We've had to work extremely hard to get ourselves into this position and give ourselves a shout of securing a play-off place. It's more a sense of anticipation amongst the players than anything else.
READ MORE: Ex-skipper George Honeyman will be cheering on Sunderland from afar
"It's a positive situation because we have done it ourselves, it hasn't been handed to us by anyone, no-one has done us a favour. We've done what we needed to do make sure it is still in our hands, and that's the way you would want it going into the last game."
Morecambe go into today's game two places and two points above the relegation zone, but not yet safe from the drop. And Derek Adams' side - which lost 5-0 at the Stadium of Light in December - also needs a win to make sure of survival under their own steam.
Neil said: "Morecambe have a lot to play for as well, so I'm sure they will come up with a gameplan that gives them the best opportunity of getting something from the game to make sure they secure their status. They have done extremely well because it's not too long ago that Morecambe were in League Two regularly and fighting to stay in there.
"Having won promotion, if they stay in League One, which in the current situation looks likely, it will be a great achievement. We need to make sure we move the ball really well, and if they press us then we can play through that, play round it, maybe play over it.
"Equally, when they have got the ball we need to make sure our defensive structure is right. It's going to be a tough game because of what is at stake for both teams.
"I'm fully aware of what is coming."
The simplest route to a play-off place is a Sunderland victory, but if that does not happen then the Black Cats will be anxiously looking to see how rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, and Wycombe are getting on. Asked whether he would be keeping an eye on the other scores, Neil said: "Normally the answer would be 'no'.
"However, probably from half-time onwards, I think it would be naive of me not to have a look and see how things stand. A lot depends on our game.
"If we are winning, I don't really need to be concerned about what's happening elsewhere."
For the latest Sunderland news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
