The countdown to promotion starts in earnest at Elland Road on Saturday as Leeds United begin an eight-game run that will hopefully lift the club into the Coca-Cola Championship.

A crowd of 27,000 is expected at Elland Road on what will be an emotive afternoon with the club remembering the 10th anniversary of the deaths of Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight.

The game will be preceeded by a minute's silence, and manager Simon Grayson is hoping that a fortress atmosphere will provide the platform for Leeds to make that final push towards the next division.

"We know it's a tough game against Swindon but it's a great opportunity to start these eight games," said Grayson.T

"Theres no disguising the importance of the game, but we all have to stick together from the first whistle to the last, the players and the fans.

"We have to get back to where we were. I saw an article written by Gary Walker in the YEP this week about the team and the fans and it was about the players and the fans sticking together. 

"I know it works both ways - the players have to give the fans something and vice versa, but these fans have been fantastic. We have to get back that feelgood factor and the opposition will find it a handful. Teams came here and couldn't handle it earlier in the season.

"If it's a rallying call so be it. We're all in this together. We all set out on this together and if we can get Elland Road back to being a fortress then it will help us get promotion this year."

Swindon are a point behind Leeds in fourth spot, and Danny Wilson's men have their own promotion ambition. But United face Swindon on Saturday and Yeovil on Monday, knowing that two wins would mean two massive strides back to the Championship.

"We have a big belief we can pick up maximum points this weekend, but you can only approach the first game and hopefully a positive result against Swindon will set us up for the game at Yeovil on Monday," added the boss.

"They have a good team with good organisation who feel they have a chance to go up, but the here lads have a hunger and a desire to do the right things.

"Saturday will also be emotive with the anniversary of Chris and Kevin. A lot of people have worked hard raising funds over the past year for charity in memory of the two lads and they have a dinner on Saturday night. When I go over with the players after the game and I hope we can reflect on a good day."