Sam Allardyce is gearing up for his first derby experience as West Ham United manager.
Victory at The Den on Saturday lunchtime would take the Hammers top of the npower Championship, at least for a few hours, and the manager believed his men were up for the occasion in the right way.
With Carlton Cole on a roll scoring goals and a virtually fully fit squad to choose from - only Gary O'Neil remains on the long-term casualty list - there was increased optimism around Chadwell Heath this week.
You have a first home win and are unbeaten in five matches. What's your report on the season so far?
SA: I am pleased with how things have gone. We have finally won our first game at home and that really shows we are on the right track. The fact the club hadn't won a home match since March was a big burden on quite a few of the players that had survived last season's relegation and were still here. The fans were a bit nervous as well. With the away form, it now makes for a very good start to the season. Having lost the first game, we haven't lost in five - winning four and drawing one.
What's the team news for Saturday?
SA: We have got a good fit squad at the moment. We had a development squad game against Tottenham on Monday and unfortunately Guy Demel, who is a little short of match practice, felt his hamstring a little bit. That is perhaps going to be a slight problem but after that everyone is OK. We are the most entertaining team in the league. We have scored more goals than anyone and long may it continue.
Are you worried about conceding goals still?
SA: We want to tighten that up next time we play at home. It certainly hasn't been a problem away. Away from home has been very good. The balance of the side has been fantastic which has resulted in three very good victories. Of course, the last two victories have been 4-0 and 4-1. If we can recreate that again on Saturday against Millwall then we keep up a fantastic record of three away wins on the trot to try and make it four. That is the motivation for the players as well as being a big local derby,
What are you thoughts on goals coming from all over the pitch?
SA: It is much better if you share the goals. Sharing the goals out is a big responsibility but everyone has their target of getting what should be their best goal record for the season to add to what they have done before.
If everyone does better we know we will have enough goals certainly to win enough points and get automatic promotion - as long as we do the defensive side right.
How has Carlton Cole been since the transfer speculation?
SA: His performances have told you that it has not affected him. It wasn't about Carlton not liking being here, it was the money factor. What we had to do was resist it and we eventually did. Carlton is committed to West Ham, enjoying his football and enjoying scoring in every game he has played in.
You could go top on Saturday against a club you played for nearly 30 years ago. What are your memories of the old Den?
SA: I had a really good time at Millwall. They gave me an opportunity to go and play first-team football where it wasn't happening at Sunderland where I was at the time. I chose for the first time in my career to drop down a couple of divisions to play football. For me it was a big move as a family but we settled brilliantly and I enjoyed my football.
It was a good experience, I really enjoyed it and it was a different type of stadium to what is there now. It was the old stadium, the old Den on Cold Blow Lane. It was a daunting task for away teams to try and get a result.
I am sure being the West Ham manager they are not too keen on me now. I am here to do a job for West Ham and to prepare my team in the best possible way I can. For me it is about focusing on the game and my team on getting ready to perform at their best possible level to try and win what is going to be a difficult game.
Have you had to tell your players not to get carried away with the atmosphere?
SA: At some stage or even just before the game I will remind them that we want it to be a football spectacle. We want to be playing our best football and we don't want anything to distract us from that.
The atmosphere can change a players' mood but we want him to play to his best and use the atmosphere to bring the best out of him as an individual and then the team as a whole. Don't let the emotions overspill into something where we may give something to the opposition that we don't want to.
We want to stay motivated, aggressive but calm as well. Controlled aggression in terms of bringing the best out of each other and let the atmosphere bring the best out of you.