IT’S still seven weeks away, but Town fans are already talking about the derby at Leeds.

And one of the big debating points is whether the Whites will still be unbeaten on Saturday, December 8.

Dennis Wise’s side made it 11 League I matches without a defeat this season when they drew 1-1 with Leyton Orient at Elland Road last Saturday.

Nine of those matches have been won, and had it not been for the well-documented 15-point deduction, 12th-placed Leeds would have been nine points clear of joint-leaders Swansea and Tranmere going into today’s game at Brighton.

“You’ve got to take your hat off to Leeds,” said Town defender David Mirfin.

“Given the points deduction, most people thought they’d do well to avoid relegation.

“The way they’re going, they’ll soon be in the thick of the promotion race.

“Obviously losing the 15 points could end up costing them promotion, but they’ve taken a positive from a major negative by using it as a unifying force.

“It became them against the world, and their run shows how important confidence can be in football.”

The first league meeting between Town and Leeds in 20 years looks likely to draw a 30,000-plus crowd.

And the atmosphere is likely to be different from the preceding Wednesday, when Town will be in action at Southend.

But Mirfin insists it’s no more important than any other game.

“There will be a buzz about the place, just like there is for any derby game, but there are three points available for every match, and you have to treat them all the same way.

“Yes, we’d all love to beat Leeds, but we’ll all want to beat Southend just as badly.”

Leeds host Port Vale on the Tuesday before the Town clash.