Rochdale boss Keith Hill has insisted that Sunderland are a Premier League club operating in League One, but while he expects the Black Cats to bounce back, he has warned if they fail first time they might get lost in the division.
Hill's side will visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday to take on Jack Ross' men in a league match.
The Rochdale manager knows well the kind of threat the Black Cats pose, with the side just being relegated to the third tier after playing in Premier League just two seasons ago.
The 49-year-old insists that it would be perfectly be natural for Sunderland to be promoted at the end of the season, but if they fail to do that it could be calamitous and the club could get lost in League One.
Whether they have Ross on as their manager or have someone else at the helm, Hill does not think Sunderland will remain a third tier side for long.
"To be fair to Sunderland they've had two terrible seasons, but they are a Premier League side playing League One football", the manager said in an interview with his club's official website.
"All they can do now is bounce, whether it's under Jack Ross, a different manager, this group of players, a different group of players – they won't be playing League One football for long.
"They could do exactly the same as Wolves did, Sheffield United to a certain degree.
"But if you're a Sunderland supporter, manager, director, owner you would expect them to bounce first time. It's not always guaranteed.
"When it doesn't happen and you don't bounce first time you can get lost in League One.
"But I expect them to bounce. In the same way they've had two negative bounces I expect them to stabilise and go again."
Rochdale head to the north east on a run of four games unbeaten, with three wins and one draw.
