Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca fears the worst for both his old clubs as they fight for their Premier League lives.
The 36-year-old Argentinian, who represented the Black Cats and Boro with distinction before injury forced his premature retirement from the professional game, is hoping for a miracle with the north-east rivals teetering on a precipice.
Arca has seen David Moyes' Sunderland, who lost 1-0 to their rivals from Teesside in midweek, drag themselves back from the brink of disaster in each of the last four seasons, but suspects they have played with fire once too often as they head into Saturday's home clash with Bournemouth.