January 3, 2001 10:38: Crystal Palaces 2001 got off to a false start with the postponement of Mondays clash with Huddersfield Town.

But the Eagles will have to be in top gear with two vital cup clashes on the agenda in the next seven days.

This Saturday sees Alan Smiths men travel to the Stadium of Light for an FA Cup third round battle with Sunderland.

The Black Cats will be primed for revenge after Palaces 2-1 Worthington Cup victory in December.

The Eagles goalscoring duo that day, Clinton Morrison and Mikael Forssell, look set to be unleashed on Peter Reids men once again.

That means Dougie Freedman, who was cup-tied for the Selhurst Park clash, will have to settle for a place on the bench.

The Eagles will also be without defender Neil Ruddock who is still suspended after his sending off against Crewe.

Unfortunately for Smiths men, defeat at Selhurst Park seemed to kick-start Sunderlands season.

Peter Reids men currently sit in joint second place in the Premiership after their 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town on New Years Day.

Although Sunderland, given their current form, must be red hot favourites, the Eagles have recent experience of FA Cup ties in the north east.

A Lee Bradbury goal put Palace in front at Newcastle United two years ago, only for the Magpies to eventually run out 2-1 winners.

But the prospect of a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool next week is evidence of what an in-form Palace are capable of achieving.

With the return leg at Anfield looming large, the Eagles will be hoping to take a first leg lead from Wednesdays Selhurst showdown.

And they might just have caught the Reds at the right time, with their championship challenge stuttering over the holiday period.

A nervous 2-1 win over Southampton followed a 1-0 defeat by relegation troubled Middlesbrough.

And worse still for boss Gerard Houllier is star striker Emile Heskeys worrying dip in form.

The former Leicester City hit-man has failed to score in his last six games.

Despite the Eagles defeat by Liverpool at the same stage of the competition in 1995, minds will be firmly cast back to 1990 as a source of encouragement for the Eagles.

Palace overcame all the odds to beat Liverpool 4-3 in an FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park to set up a Wembley final against Manchester United, which they lost in a replay.