Roque Santa Cruz believes if Manchester City clinch a Champions League slot it will change the whole landscape of the club.

Roberto Mancini's side intend to keep up their push for that coveted fourth place in the Barclays Premier League when they visit Sunderland.

Along with Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa the race looks as though it will go down to the last day.

Santa Cruz is fully aware what it is like to play at the top level of club football having been part of the Bayern Munich squad that won the 2001 European Cup.

And the Paraguay striker says there is a mood of quiet confidence in the City camp especially after the way they demolished Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in their last outing.

"We know how hard it is going to be but we have the quality and strength to achieve our goals," he told Sky Sports.

"The aim is to finish fourth and have Champions League football.

"That will attract other players to the club and make it potentially as big as Chelsea and Manchester United in the future."

Santa Cruz has endured a frustrating debut season at Eastlands after arriving in the summer from Blackburn and managed just two goals in the Barclays Premier League.

He has been troubled by a calf injury but is now fully recovered and aiming to kick on the final weeks of the campaign.

However, he may have to settle for a place on the bench at the Stadium of Light with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy likely to be the preferred partnership.

Santa Cruz is relaxed about the situation.

He said: "When you have quality players in the squad it is a good thing.

"You know these quality players can change things if they are not going your way.

"That is the strength of the club, just like any other big club in Europe."

Sunderland go into the match on the back of a 4-0 victory against Bolton and Santa Cruz is expecting a battle.

He added: "It could be a very dangerous game for us. But we need to get three points, I don't think one will be enough at this stage."

Defender Kolo Toure is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after recovering from a knee injury.

Toure had to settle for a place on the bench in the victory over Chelsea.

Emmanuel Adebayor is absent through suspension while Martin Petrov has a knee injury.