And he says if the Black Cats can make the most of home advantage over the Hammers and the Trotters, they can also go on to profit from one of the most fluid Premier League tables in recent memory.

Collins told the Gazette: "You hear all the time people saying there're no easy games in the Premier League and the reason why you hear it all the time is because they're right.

"There aren't easy games in the Premier League – you have to fight in every match and even if you play well, sometimes there's no guarantees.

"I think we've seen that ourselves as a club in the last three games.

"We've played well enough in the game against Portsmouth and the two against Blackburn Rovers to have won all three games.

"We played well in patches in all three of those games – we also had patches where we didn't play so well.

"But I don't think anyone would have complained if we'd won all three.

"That's the way it is in these games though – matches are so tight that anyone can beat anyone – that's why the league is so tight at the moment."

Collins's point could hardly be better illustrated than by the fact that the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend hoisted the Wearsiders from 19th to 11th in the Premier League.

The defender said: "It was a big leap up the table for us but we have to take advantage of that now by continuing to pick up the points

"We have two home games now and we have to make the most of them.

"It's great that we're back in mid-table now but that can soon change around and that's why we've got the most of the fact that we're playing at the Stadium of Light our next couple of games with the fans behind us."

Collins says it is too early to tell how the season will pan out but believes that the club has to use their policy of steady improvement as a guideline for the future.

And on that basis, he says Sunderland have to look at impressing against both sides.

He said: "West Ham United finished mid-table last season and that's where we've got to be looking to finish this season if we want to improve.

"We finished 15th last season, which was good for a team which had just been promoted.

"Now we want to improve on last season and to do that, we've got to be looking to do well against the likes of West Ham United this weekend and Bolton Wanderers next weekend."

The game against West Ham United will be the first time that Anton Ferdinand has faced the club he spent the whole of his career with until his summer transfer to Sunderland.

And Collins says his team-mate is looking forward to the match as much as anyone.

"Anton's always a vocal one in the dressing room," grinned Collins. "I know this is a match he wants to play in more than most.

"You always want to do well against your former club and I get the impression Anton is looking forward to it."