Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has told January signings Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos to wait for their chance.
Kyrgiakos is yet to feature since his switch to the Stadium of Light, while Bridge has managed just eight minutes as a substitute.
The pair missed out on the FA Cup replay win at Middlesbrough as they were not registered in time for the original tie and O'Neill admits the pair will have to wait for their chances, due to the Black Cats fine defensive record of late.
"They know that it is not automatic that they will be in the side," O'Neill told the Sunderland Echo.
"I'm delighted to have them here though and they know they will have to fight to force their way into the team, because we are doing okay at the moment."
The January transfer window was O'Neill's first chance to make a mark on the side after taking over at Sunderland and the former Celtic and Aston Villa manager insists the pair will get their chance.
However, Sunderland have conceded just four goals since the turn of the year and O'Neill is in no rush to make changes to his defence.
He added: "With the games coming thick and fast at the moment, with the FA Cup running alongside the league, we will certainly need them.
"They will come into contention in the coming weeks regardless of what we do or don't do this weekend."