Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris said his team have "earned" their top-six place after a point against Norwich was enough to ensure they will be in the play-offs.
"It's a great achievement for the team, the staff and the club, so it's nice to be in the play-offs and have another purpose," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"We earned this opportunity and now it's important to manage the squad properly, to give some minutes to the youngest players so they can learn from experiences, and for the others who have played many games so far, it will be an opportunity to find the right balance, to be in good shape and refresh when necessary.