Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder insists he won't treat the derby against Sheffield Wednesday next week like any other game.

The two rivals meet for the second time this season at Hillsborough in what is a crucial game for the Blades.

In the big picture, they are firmly in the race for automatic promotion, so three points are at stake like they are for every game.

However, this is obviously a fixture that means more to the supporters. And, Wilder, a Blades fan himself, told the Sheffield Star he is aware of the importance:

"Next week means a lot. I am not going to downplay that game and our supporters will not expect me to.

"I would not expect their manager, players and supporters to do that either. It is going to be another fantastic game to be involved and if we keep going like we are, we are a dangerous side and a tough team to get around."

There is a strong possibility that Wilder's men will go into the game in third position, with Leeds United playing twice before then and they're currently behind the Blades on goal difference.

The Verdict

This is a great attitude from Wilder and it's refreshing to see a manager share his feelings honestly instead of the cautious messages we usually see.

No matter what the circumstances in the season, winning the Sheffield derby will mean everything to both sets of supporters.

Wilder will make his players aware of that and it's no down to them to deliver as they have done over the years.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.