Head coach Neil Redfearn wants his side to "play with confidence and enjoy the occasion" as they prepare for the visit of league leaders Derby County to Elland Road.

The Rams currently sit three points clear at the top of the Championship and have won their last three games on the bounce, while United’s form remains a concern with just one win from the last 10.

But Redfearn is encouraging his side to relish the challenge and believes the home advantage could play its part after enjoying victory last time out at Elland Road against Blackpool.

"I think they’ve had a fantastic season and it’s a great game for us," said Redfearn.

"Everybody will expect them to come and get a result against us but I think we’re in this position now where we’re an unknown quantity for teams.

"I think we’re playing well. The last three performances, in general, have been good.

"We like to play at home, you can see that. We’ve had most of our better victories at home.

"We’ve got to go out there and play with confidence and enjoy the occasion.

"It’s a great game to play in and I know the players will rise. They’ll want to go and play in this sort of game, it’s a great game for them. It’s a good game to look forward to."

Derby endured Play-Off Final heartbreak at the end of last season but are now among the favourites to secure a return to the top-flight after an impressive turnaround since Steve McClaren’s appointment last September.

"If you look throughout the side, they’re quite a young side and they’ve got good balance in the side," said Redfearn.

"He’s changed one or two people. The boy Jordan Ibe who’s come in from Liverpool is going to be a threat if he plays from the left.

"Then there’s people like Will Hughes, these are outstanding young players. Then Chris Martin is central to everything they do.

"The ball goes into Martin and they get runners off him. They’re a dangerous side.

"But we’re aware of what they can do and I’ve made the lads aware of how they play and how they look to create."

However, Redfearn insists he would rather focus on the strengths of his own side and the direction he is looking to take them.

"I’m more interested in us, I’m more interested in what we do and how we perform because we’re trying to build on things," he said.

"We’re trying to build on performances, we’re trying to get results and if we can play anything like we have been playing in the last few games, it’ll be a good game.

"Then we need to be tough at both ends of the pitch to get the result."