Brentford Manager Mark Warburton said everyone in the camp was well aware how important the West London derby against Fulham was to the supporters.
The Bees face Fulham in a televised Sky Bet Championship match at Griffin Park tomorrow, Friday November 21.
Brentford won three games in a week before having two weeks off for international fixtures and are sixth in the table.
Mark said every game was worth three points but the players knew the significance of a match against Fulham, the first league game between the teams since 1998.
He said The Bees had to look at what they had done to climb up the table and carry on doing it.
“The players are well aware of the situation,” said Mark, speaking to Bees Player yesterday.
“It is a big West London derby and it means a lot to the supporters.
“We are aware of the significance of the game.
“All we talk about is the next fixture, it is three points.
“We had a good run and three victories which changed the league table.
“We now want to cement our position in sixth and go again.
“We will look at what got us to this position.
“If we drop the standards we can get beat heavily, the margins are fine.
“We have to hit our standards and push on again.”
Mark said his side would relish the challenge of a game on TV against Fulham, relegated from the Premier League last season.
He said the group had worked hard to win promotion from League One last term to play games like this.
Mark praised the supporters, who have sold out the ground, and said he expected a great atmosphere.
“The players have worked hard to get this fixture list and play in these TV games, at Griffin Park, under the floodlights, with a packed house,” said the Brentford boss.
“They relish that challenge.
“They look forward to the game and we want to deliver a good performance and give the supporters the right result.
“There will be a great atmosphere.
“We have to use it.
“It speaks volumes that the game is on TV and still sold out.
“We have to maintain our standards.
“Fulham are a good side, packed with quality players but, with our run of form, we should go in full of confidence and push on again.”
Fulham won at Griffin Park in a Capital One Cup tie in August but Mark said it would be two different teams that go head-to-head tomorrow.
Mark said Fulham would pose a threat with Ross McCormack and Hugo Rodallega in attack; they had former England captain Scott Parker in midfield and fellow internationals Bryan Ruiz, Lasse Vigen Christensen and George Williams in the line-up.
“It will be a very different Fulham and a very different Brentford,” he said.
“That day we had a good first half and then lost to a solitary goal.
“We are aware Fulham’s strengths, their full backs get high and they have quality with Rodallega and McCormack up top.
“Parker does a great defensive role; they have quality in midfield with Ruiz, Williams and Christensen.
“We will watch DVDs, as will they, and hopefully we can impose ourselves on the game.
“We want our strengths to expose their weaknesses and they will try to do the same to us.
“We need to do our job and apply it on the night.
“I am looking forward to it.”
Mark gave his players four days off earlier this week as they had no matches.
“The players came back and have trained well this week,” he said.
“They are in good shape, fingers crossed we can turn that in to a good performance on Friday.
“The players are professionals, they look after themselves.
“They know how to rest and relax.
“They are a good group.”
The Bees will be without Alan McCormack and Scott Hogan with long-term injuries but Mark said everyone else was fit.
Marcos Tébar played for Brentford’s Development Squad against Colchester United on Monday and Mark said he came through fine.
The Brentford boss said he could have used other players in the game but wanted to have a full training group for a hard session.
“Marcos cruised through the game,” said Mark.
“He looked very comfortable with the level, which you would expect.
“It was good fitness for him.
“He had a nasty strain but has come through and is available for selection.
“When the players came back after their break they were either in a match situation or doing the hard session.
“It was important for the players to do that hard session.
“I could have put more players in to the Development Squad game but apart from Marcos, who needed the game time, I thought it was important for others to be with the group and they trained well.”
Mark said he had plenty to consider when selecting his team but Alex Pritchard had returned from England Under-21 duty in god shape.
He said with games against teams like Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers on the horizon there was likely to be chances for many members of his squad to play.
“There is a full squad, it is nice to have that choice,” said Mark.
“We are conscious that we have big fixtures coming up.
“We play Fulham then Wolves, Huddersfield, Blackburn.
“There are no easy games and we have to utilise the squad.
“Alex Pritchard went away with England and came back fit and well.
“James Tarkowski has been on the bench while Harlee Dean and Tony Craig have done well and he is looking to get his shirt back.
“We have competition for places all over the pitch.
“Players have to be patient and professional, I understand they are not happy when not playing but we have to get the balance right.
“All the players are training well; we have 22 that could start a game for us.
“We have a depth of quality, players have to bide their time and the chances will come.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Mark Warburton here.