Newcastle and Sunderland are separated by just two points and four places in the league standings and are both going in search of a much-needed morale boosting victory tomorrow.
The Magpies suffered their heaviest ever European defeat at Barcelona in midweek, while Sunderland were embarrassed in the FA Cup at Port Vale a fortnight ago and lost in the league to Brighton last time out.
Newcastle still have eyes on securing European qualification for next season and Howe says a derby victory would be the perfect springboard.
"The positive of this game could be huge," he said.
"Not just the feeling around the city but the feeling about ourselves.
"If we can win three Premier League games in a row, which we haven't been able to do consistently, if we can go on that run of wins that we have been on every year I've been here and which has helped us so much in the Premier League, we've got an opportunity.
"I want to be positive, I want the players to feel that this could be a turning point.
"With such few games to go, we could close the gap (on European places) and who knows where that can take us."
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Sunderland have already achieved their primary aim of reaching 40 points this season, but Le Bris insists his players haven't taken their eye off the ball.
"No, I don't think so at all," he said.
"If I feel the mood in the dressing room after Brighton, you would say that there is no complacency. They want to win and we are not happy when we lose. I repeat, this league is relentless."
Howe said this week he wants Newcastle to play "like their lives depend on it", whereas Le Bris talked about the importance of controlling emotion.
He said: "There's always a risk to block the players if you push too much.
"It's about playing the game with not the freedom but you want to win, you want the big desire and the big togetherness. It's emotion and control. If it's too much emotion, you can use your mind.
"If your brain is overloaded, it might be difficult. For me, we want to be underdog, we want to be intense but with control."