Head coach Steve Cooper is well aware just how much Saturday’s East Midlands derby means to Nottingham Forest supporters.
The Welshman has quickly developed a strong bond with Reds followers since he was appointed in September.
And while he always enjoys the sense of occasion which comes with matches at the City Ground, he is looking forward to the extra special atmosphere generated by a meeting with Derby County on the banks of the Trent.
Cooper is keen to make sure, however, that nobody in the Forest squad loses focus on the task in hand - claiming three points, to make it back-to-back league wins.
“I’ve not experienced it yet, but I’m sensing there’s going to be a lot of motivation in the ground and a lot of pride,” said the Reds boss.
“I’m really looking forward to it. But I look forward to all the games, especially the home games. I love the events that they are and how the community comes together.
“There’s a real sense of belonging and pride.
“This will be the best example of that, I’m sure.
“We’ve just got to concentrate on the job in hand.
“The game can’t come soon enough. We just want to be ready to go, and I’m pretty sure we will be.”
While this will be Cooper’s first experience of a Forest versus Derby clash, there are a number of players within his squad who are well versed on such matters.
As well as those who have played in these fixtures before, the likes of Joe Worrall, Ryan Yates and Brennan Johnson - who have come up through the club - know all too well how important bragging rights are to the fans.
“I never like to think too much about what anything means for me, because I’m very much about the collective and the greater good,” said Cooper. “The greater good is Nottingham Forest as a club and a community. That will always be my priority.
“As every day, I’m proud to be here, it’s an honour. We just want to do the best we can.
“Matchdays are obviously the most important, and where you get judged a lot of the time, so we’ll do our very best to commit to what we think it takes to play well and win, and support each other in doing so.
“We do understand what it means to the fans, and we’ll be feeling it with the supporters.
“The bit that we’ve got is, we can make it happen on the pitch.
“We’re very, very understanding of how important this game is. But at the same time, we’re very focused on what it takes to make it a good day.
“I would hope that everyone feels the same about the game, because that’s what a real togetherness, a real spirit and a real representation of the club is - that everyone feels it the same.
“In terms of relaying the message and getting people to understand, then the boys who have been here a long while will be able to explain it more clearly than others.
“But in terms of it mattering, we should all feel it, everybody.”
Given the predicament the Reds’ opponents find themselves in, this has the potential to be the final competitive meeting between the two sides for some time.
“Derby games are so important to clubs, communities, supporters, players and staff, of course they are,” Cooper added. “Wherever you live and whatever team you support, they are always the games you want to be involved in and see on TV.
“Of course derby games are important.
“The more we can be involved in, as long as we’re playing well and progressing, the better.”
