GARY Rowett admitted Leeds will present a “massive challenge” on Tuesday – but insisted his side were going to Elland Road to win.
Millwall were 14 points behind Leeds at the beginning of the year, but a victory for the Lions would reduce the gap to Marcelo Bielsa’s second-place side to just five points.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge,” Rowett said. “I know there’s a rivalry between the clubs, a really healthy rivalry. It’s a great atmosphere there.
“I’d imagine after 10 days off and despite results being in a bit of a rut there will be a big atmosphere there and big expectations on them to try and start well. We’ll be ready for that.
“They’re a really well-coached team. The top managers in the world have spoken about [Bielsa] in high regard.
“But, listen, it doesn’t really matter to us. We’re going there to try to win another game of football. We know the challenge is really big, we know we’ll have to be at our very best.
“But we were against Bristol, we were against Derby, we were against Swansea. Our ambition will never change, we’ll go there to win.
“We’re respectful of the fact they’re a very good team and there will be a very good atmosphere from the home fans as well as the away fans.
“It’s a big challenge – but we like challenges.”
Leeds will be without midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who starts a three-game ban.
Rowett believes Leeds are so well drilled it won’t necessarily make a decisive difference.
Rowett continued: “I think it makes them weaker in the sense that Kalvin Phillips is one of their best players, he’s been brilliant whenever I’ve seen him play in a back four, I’ve seen him in the midfield, stepping forward. He can do a bit of everything.
“What Leeds have done better than anyone else in the Championship is they could put a 17-year-old in and it wouldn’t make a difference because the whole structure of the club is based around making those young players know the role and perfect it.
“Whether it’s [Mateusz] Klich who drops in there or [Jamie] Shackleton they’re going to be the same team.”
Meanwhile, Shaun Hutchinson is set to return to the Lions side after being rested against Sheffield United on Saturday.
Hutchinson said: “It feels like it’s been forever since I played a game, you get so used to the Saturday-Tuesday schedule.
“It’s been built up and it’s one I’ve been looking forward to. Again, it’s another game when you’re in a Millwall shirt playing a top Championship team that are doing well.
“It’s going to be an incredible atmosphere and we really feel like we can go there and put a show on and grind something out.”
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