NOTTINGHAM Forest are now gathering real momentum but Nathan Clarke reckons Town have nothing to fear at the Galpharm tomorrow (3.00).
Gary Megson's side moved into seventh place thanks to their 2-0 win over promotion hopefuls Southend and are now just eight points behind Peter Jackson's side as they head north.
It's a meeting of two of the best supported sides in the division and Clarke is hoping to gain revenge for Town's opening-day 2-1 defeat at the City Ground, when a late David Johnson strike proved the clincher.
Johnson has this week had an injection to help clear a back injury which has been troubling him.
"After the home derby against Bradford it's great to have another big game to look forward to and, to be honest, we can't wait to get going," said Clarke, who is an ever present in League I this season.
"After suffering a double defeat to Bradford last season we feel we've got the upper hand on them with four points this time and we are in really good shape as we look to the Forest game.
"I'm sure Forest will be looking to come here and put us under pressure, but we were really disappointed to lose to them on the opening day of the season and we want to try and put that right.
"I think it was unfortunate for us to play them first up. Had we got two or three games under our belt we would probably have gone down there and battered them, but it was one of those things.
"We know Forest are improving after being installed as favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked, but we don't feel we've got anything to fear with the way we've been doing.
"We have got more or less a full squad with Chris Brandon and Adnan Ahmed fit again, Mark Hudson is back from suspension and we are hoping Pav (Abbott) will shake off the knee injury he got against Bradford.
"If we go about it in the right way, then there's no reason why we can't win and it should be a good game."
Clarke - man-of-the-match against Bradford in only a fourth clean sheet of the season - is pleased with his own form.
"I'm feeling strong and fit and everything is going well, so I'm really pleased," he said.
"I just want to keep on playing as I am and for the team to continue doing well.
"We were a bit disappointed not to take all three points last week after Swansea had won the night before, but with us not scoring it was doubly important to keep a clean sheet and we were delighted with that.
"We knew it would be a tough game and we were a bit surprised when Steve Claridge wasn't playing, but they opted for Danny Cadamarteri to try and get behind us and I thought myself, David Mirfin and the whole of the defence did a great job.
"All of us know we need to keep more clean sheets. The gaffer is always going on about it and he's right.
"As a team, we have the ability to score plenty of goals and, like the gaffer says, if we keep clean sheets we are going to win titles."
Town - Rachubka, Holdsworth, Adams, N Clarke, Mirfin, Brandon, Hudson, Worthington, Schofield, Abbott, Booth, Taylor-Fletcher, Carss, Collins, Ahmed, T Clarke, Senior.
Forest - Gerrard, Eaden, Morgan, Breckin, Thompson, Southall, Curtis, Cullip, Perch, Taylor, Tyson, Lester, Gardner, Bopp, Pedersen, Bastians, Holt.
Referee - Mike Dean (Cheshire).
