The first West Yorkshire derby of the season will throw together two teams with contrasting fortunes and confidence this weekend, and McAllister wants his players to exploit any weaknesses displayed by a struggling Huddersfield side.

Town parted company with their former manager Stan Ternent at the start of this month, leaving them in the hands of caretaker boss Gerry Murphy, and they have slipped into the bottom half of League One after failing to justify their pre-season status as promotion candidates.

United are preparing for tomorrow's match with a commendable Carling Cup performance at Derby County behind them, and McAllister says Huddersfield will be given no quarter in front of the biggest League One crowd of the season.

An attendance in excess of 30,000 will be recorded at Elland Road, and McAllister said: "There's no finer place when you get a crowd of over 30,000. The atmosphere is as good as anywhere.

"After the disappointment of midweek (when Leeds lost 2-1 to Derby), we're looking to come out fighting. We'll be ready and we'll be prepared.

"We're going into the game as favourites but they're not going to give us anything for free. We know that. They're our next door neighbours and we're ready for a battle.

"But the performance the other night suggests we're moving in the right direction, and I want the fans to come to Elland Road to be excited – the more the merrier. We've got to be winning games and especially at home."

United have a full squad to select from after an injury-free night at Derby on Tuesday, and Leeds will be given the chance to rise to the top of League One if Scunthorpe United fail to beat Bristol Rovers tonight.

Tomorrow's match at Elland Road kicks off at 12.15pm, some two-and-three-quarter hours before Leicester City clash with Swindon Town, and McAllister believes the sight of United at the top of the division could have a negative effect on the clubs around them.

"The early kick off means we can (potentially go top)," he said.

"Psychologically that's always a big thing – and it could be for others in our division as well. They'll look at Leeds United at the top of the league and it might have a negative effect on them."

Murphy, however, was the man who masterminded Huddersfield's victory over McAllister's Leeds at the Galpharm Stadium in April – again as the club's caretaker – and United's boss admitted he was wary of under-estimating a man whose service to Town as their academy director has spanned two decades.

McAllister said: "Gerry proved last time that he was very able and he's done this job many times now.

"Gerry's a conscientious guy and he's been involved with Huddersfield for a long time. It's his passion. We know what they're going to be like when they come here.

"There was a lot of talk at the start of the season about them bringing players in and strengthening, and this is their centenary year. They wanted to have a push and have a go for promotion, and two or three wins could make a huge difference. They'll be thinking that they can string something together, get a little run going and affect the top of the table.

"But all my players have got to do to give themselves a boost is shut their eyes and think back to some of the passages of play at Pride Park. Barring the two or three little mistakes we made, everyone performed. We should think about that."