Games between Sunderland and Newcastle United never need any hype but even so, Sunday's 'El Lassico' at the Stadium of Light stands out as one of the most significant and keenly-anticipated derbies between these two teams in recent memory. Since Newcastle United's promotion to the second tier, it's a fixture that has quickly been marked out on the calendar and inspired a welcome boost in attendance, but never have the two teams been as closely matched or the stakes so high from a footballing point of view.

Though Durham have historically been Sunderland Women's most obvious football rivals because of the many years of close competition and the familiarity between the two playing squads, the context of the Wear-Tyne derby is changing quickly. Sunday's game at the Stadium of Light is first versus second in the early WSL2 table, Newcastle United unbeaten in the league and Sunderland's only loss coming at Ipswich Town in a game marked by significant refereeing controversy. To say there is more than local bragging rights on the line here would be an understatement.

Newcastle United are favourites to win the league and claim promotion this season, but it is to their credit that they are turning a very healthy budget into consistent results under leadership of director of football Grace Williams and head coach Tanya Oxtoby. PIF's takeover led to a major injection of resource in the women's team, and after promotion they quickly overtook Sunderland both in budget and in the table. Having fallen short in their first two seasons at the level, however, a shift in their recruitment model that has focused a little less on star names and the results so far speak for themselves. If they are not champions at the end of the campaign, it would be a surprise.

Sunderland, though, are enjoying a very welcome resurgence. Head coach Mel Reay recently marked 250 games in charge of the club and her tenure has been reinvigorated by Bay Collective's takeover in the summer. The Black Cats were falling behind their rivals over the last couple of years but an ambitious summer window and an improvement in the club's off-off-pitch operation has transformed the mood behind the scenes. A cup game between two sides who had made a number of changes it may have been, but Sunderland's recent 1-0 win over Newcastle in the Subway Cup was their first in a competitive clash between the two since PIF's takeover.

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Sunderland began the campaign quietly confident they would improve quickly but from the moment they took over the club, Bay Collective were clear their goals were long-term. Sustainability is a key word, with a significant focus on the club's productive academy whose graduates still make up a significant number of Reay's senior squad. Promotion was not a stated goal or expectation and a strong start has not changed that, but if they can maintain their current position they will earn a shot at the Super League in a play-off.

Reay's team will start this game as underdogs, but in recent months they have taken significant steps to close the gap that had grown between the two. It's a game and a derby that is increasingly in need of no introduction; exactly as it should be.

*El Lassico kicks off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon, with tickets still available