Ahead of Saturday’s early kick-off, Brentford captain Nathan Collins has spoken about the rising intensity in the squad.
The Bees currently sit in 7th place, just three points ahead of their rivals Fulham as both clubs chase a potential European qualification spot.
Collins emphasised that the importance of the game.
“I think I’ve played four or five now, and you feel the week leading up to it that there’s a bit more to it,” he said.
“You talk to Peter Gilham and he has so many stories about previous rivalries and previous matches. I think you can tell in the week leading up to the match how much it means to him, and how much it means to a Brentford fan.
“The fact that we’re competing for something big and have something to push towards creates such a better feeling in training and going into the end of the season when you have so much on the line.
“You want to play in big games like this. This is why we do it.”
Brentford are looking to break a frustrating streak against their neighbours, as Fulham have come from behind to win the last three meetings between the two sides.
With only six games remaining in the season, this derby at the Gtech Community Stadium is being viewed as a “must-win” for Brentford to maintain their lead in the top half of the table.