EXCITED Town manager Peter Jackson is relishing the prospect of a Carling Cup derby at Leeds which he believes could attract more than 30,000.

The Wednesday, August 25 first-round meeting at Elland Road is the favourite to be selected by Sky TV for live coverage.

But Jackson believes the fans will flock to the ground for a first-hand look at promoted Town and relegated Leeds.

The mouth-watering tie pits Town coach Terry Yorath against the club where he spent a decade as a player, winning the League championship in 1974.

And it also puts new Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell up against the club where he cut his coaching teeth, during Neil Warnock's Town managership of the mid-Nineties.

"It's a cracking draw - definitely the best of the round - and myself, Taff (Yorath) and the players couldn't be happier at the prospect of going there for a winner-takes-all clash," said Jackson.

"Leeds have had their troubles, and Kevin has had to reshape the side in a big way, but they will still provide us with a massive early-season test.

"But we beat two First Division sides in Sunderland and Derby County last season so we'll go there with plenty of confidence and no reason to have fear.

"It's a long time since we played each other competitively and it's the kind of tie which gets everybody excited.

"Leeds fans are among the most faithful around, we'll take a huge following, and there could be a massive crowd - possibly more than 30,000."

Blackwell, a teammate of Jackson's at Town, said: "It's a great draw for both clubs - the tie of the round by a country mile and a real crowd-puller."

Town lost 5-0 to Leeds in a pre-season friendly at the McAlpine in 1999, when 18,850 turned out.

But the last competitive meeting was in the original Division II in December, 1987, when Town lost 3-0 at Elland Road on their way to relegation.

Jackson was today putting his players through their fifth day of pre-season training and preparing for Monday's opening friendly against Wakefield and Emley at the Welfare Ground (7.30).

Admission to the annual Mick Green Memorial Trophy match will be £4 adults, £2 OAPs and £1 Under 16s.