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The Black Cats head to France for the penultimate game of pre-season. Regis Le Bris' side have played four warm-up games, winning two and losing two, defeating League Two side York City and most recently Wrexham. Lens have played four games ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with three wins and a draw. The French outfit also overcame Premier League and Europa League side Crystal Palace with a 3-0 victory. Team News RC Lens The French side will be without Samson Baidoo, who is out injured. Baidoo was subbed after just 38 minutes in the pre-season friendly with Charleroi, due to a thigh injury, and is set to be out until October. Defender Nidal Čelik has returned to training after a meniscus injury, which ruled him out of the World Cup for Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it may be too soon to see Čelik back in action just yet. Mamadou Sangaré has recently completed a club-record transfer to Brentford after a really successful campaign. Midfielder Andrija Bulatovic is fit and featured against Villarreal, after being subbed off as a precaution in the 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Sunderland Captain Granit Xhaka has linked up with the squad and will get his first pre-season minutes after returning from international duty with Switzerland at the World Cup. Chemsdine Talbi and new summer signing Thomas Meunier have also linked up with the squad and are available for the first time this summer. Arthur Masuaku has also joined the camp after a failed move to Konyaspor. Omar Alderete has also returned to the Academy of Light; however, he is ruled out following a knee injury he picked up at the World Cup. Jocelin Ta Bi, Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fee could all be back in action after missing the win over Wrexham. Likely line-ups Lens: Gorgelin; Antonio, Ganiou, Nawrocki; Abdulhamid, Bulatovic, Cuisance, Udol; Thauvin, Edouard, Sima Formation: 3-4-3 Sunderland: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, O'Nien, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Le Fee; Hume, Brobbey, Talbi Formation: 4-2-1-3 Key players RC Lens - Florian Thauvin The ex-Newcastle United star is one to watch for the Blood and Gold. The 33-year-old arrived last summer from Udinese and racked up 11 goals and six assists, helping Lens finish second, just six points shy of champions PSG. Thauvin failed to score for the Magpies during his time in the North East. However, with spells at Marseille, Tigres and Udinese, he worked his way into Didier Deschamps' France squad, making three appearances over the course of last season, but failed to make the World Cup squad. The French international was pivotal to his side's title race last season. Thauvin created 16 big chances during the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign; only teammate Matthieu Udol created more with 22. Sunderland - Brian Brobbey The striker has looked a level above so far in the little we have seen of him in pre-season. The Dutch forward was a nightmare for Wrexham's defence, who simply couldn't handle his physicality with his back to goal. Brobbey laid the ball to Nordi Mukiele for the winner in Philadelphia. After being made the first-choice centre forward for the Netherlands by Ronald Koeman, Brobbey netted three times, and his link-up and hold-up play were essential to the Dutch attack. There were glimpses of how crucial Brobbey could be last season, specifically away to Chelsea and Newcastle, but his World Cup form will only fill him with confidence. Match Details Where is the game being played? The match is being held at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, the home of hosts Lens. What time is kick-off? Kick-off is 3pm BST and 4pm local time in France. How can I watch? The game will be live on SAFC.com.