UP-BEAT Sunderland manager Peter Reid is looking forward to another "derby" - against old rivals Leeds United at Elland Road today.

Reid does not appreciate the extent of the hostility which existed between the clubs from the 60s, culminating in the memorable 1973 FA Cup final victory. But he does sense a special edge.

He said: "Going into the game I get the feeling that it is a derby. Games between Sunderland and Leeds seem to have an edge to them and I don't know if it's because of the 1973 FA Cup final or whatever.

"But there is an edge and those are the type of games I enjoy as a manager and certainly the players are up for it.

"I think it will be a blood and thunder game. I get the feeling we are going into a derby and derbies are very, very lively. I think it will be a keenly contested game."

Sunderland have not won a League game at Elland Road since a 4-2 victory in February 1961, when Johnny Goodchild scored a hat-trick on a quagmire of a pitch, only to be dropped a week later for a sixth round FA Cup tie against Spurs.

But Reid felt his men were unlucky to lose 2-1 at Leeds last season, when the Yorkshire club completed a double over the Wearsiders.

Reid said: "Without wanting to be critical of the officials I don't think we got the rub of the green and we were unfortunate to lose.

"This is a game we are looking forward to, even though it will be very difficult.

"We are confident at the moment and I feel that my players are up for it. I think Leeds will know they have been in a game.

"It rankles with a few of my players that they did the double over us last season and it certainly rankles with me as a manager.

"I think we've come a long way since then and this is a big game. There's an edge to it and we are looking forward to it."

Reid is not critical of Leeds paying £18m for Rio Ferdinand and hinted that he might also pester his chairman for the funds to make a major splash in the transfer market if the right opportunity presented itself.

He said: "It's their business. If they want to pay £18m for a player good luck to them.

"The boy is a good player and the market place is the market place.

"It is part and parcel of the job. They are buying players they think will improve the team and I would do the same.

"If I saw a player and genuinely fancied him and the price was right I would go and try to get him.

"Leeds have gone into the Champions League and we know what that means financially to a football club. I am not saying we are going to do it but in the development of your club you are hoping that some day you will do that.

"Sunderland are getting gates of 47,000 and I know the fans deserve it. I'm not saying I'm going to do it tomorrow or even next year, but it is something you have to try for.

"You have to be open-minded. It is an awful lot of money but if a player becomes available at the right price I think you have got to have a chat with your chairman.

"If a player I wanted became available I would certainly try to twist the chairman's arm. You've got to be sensible, but if the right opportunity comes along it is up to you as a manager to try to take it."

Reid goes into this afternoon's game without the injured full back Chris Makin and reserve goalkeeper Jurgen Macho, but Niall Quinn has recovered from a back injury which would have ruled him out of the Worthington Cup tie if it had not been postponed on Tuesday.

Sunderland's £1.5m Honduran international striker Milton Nunez has joined Aston Villa on a week's trial.

l Former Leeds United goalkeeper Mark Beeney is back in football with Nationwide Conference side Doncaster Rovers.

Beeney was forced to hang up his boots 18 months ago after losing a long-term battle to overcome an Achilles problem.

But now he has recovered sufficiently to sign a one-month loan deal with Doncaster as cover for Andy Warrington, who has a broken jaw