Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday: Chris Wilder on his respect for Owls rival - but there are limits

The two sides meet for the first time in five years at Bramall Lane on Sunday with managers from very contrasting backgrounds.

Wilder is a boyhood fan of the club he played for and his two spells as manager have been all about restoring and emphasising their historic qualities. Rohl, aged just 35, is a German outsider experiencing this occasion for the first time.

Despite that, the pair have got on well in their chance meetings and striking the right balance between rivalry and respect will be important in a game which takes place on Remembrance Sunday.

"I met him once or twice in a restaurant, he invited me for a drink, it was nice," Rohl revealed in his pre-match press conference, shortly before Wilder's on Friday afternoon.

"I bump into quite a few people when I've had a couple!" joked Wilder.

"He's a good guy.

"He did an outstanding job last season. Everybody though Sheffield Wednesday looked dead and buried and he put life into them and the run they went on was fantastic. That's my football head.

"I've a huge amount of respect for what him and Henrik (Pedersen, his assistant) have done. He's highly regarded, a highly sought-after manager I should imagine now.

"They comfortably from a points point of view stayed in the division and he deserves an enormous amount of credit for the work he's doing.”

Rohl was arguably the manager of last season after inheriting a team with three points from their opening 11 Championship games and leading them to safety in his first job in charge of a first team.

"He'll be invited in for a drink, win, lose or draw,” said Wilder.

"I like him, I like his approach, I like his attitude, he's a good guy but he's on the opposite side on Sunday so we all understand what's at stake.

"It's not a big friendship, I'm not saying I know him and I go out for a beer or a coffee with him every other week but I like him and I've got a lot of admiration and respect for what he's done so far."

But there will be no quarter given at 12.30pm on Sunday.

"Having been brought up in it (the derby), witnessed it at close hand – not as a player unfortunately that was one of my biggest regrets was not being involved – it's swung one way and the other through the years,” said Wilder, who won one and drew three of his four derbies in his first spell as manager.

"It's unpredictable, it's passionate, it's important to everybody. When people talk about Manchester derbies, Glasgow derbies, London derbies, derbies over the world, this is our derby.

"You have to get the balance. People will talk about me being emotionally tied in but I'm emotionally tied in to everything.

"I was emotionally tied in on Tuesday when we went 1-0 down (at Bristol City) and when we won 2-1.

"There is a lot of preparation goes into it but the balance is key, the emotions are key. Everybody will try and pick up on little bits – he's played in it, he hasn't, he knows a little bit more about it, he's a Sheffield United fan but he's from Germany or wherever.

"It's all talk and interesting talk but the main event is 12.30 and how both teams go about their business in the best way they possibly can.

"My first one (as manager) was a memorable one for us (a 4-2 win at Hillsborough in 2017) but we didn't just go there and outrun and outfight them, we outplayed them.

"They're a dangerous opponent, well coached, they have got good results in them and our form, especially at home with 30,000 of our supporters right behind us, we want to make it a difficult place for them to come and get a result."

For all the history of the two clubs, it is 30 years since they met in English football’s top division. Wilder’s respect does not extend to wanting that to change.

"Around the corner is the oldest ground in the world (still hosting professional football, Bramall Lane) and up the road is the oldest football club in the world (Sheffield FC) so historically we've got strong roots in the game," he said of his home city.

"I don't think the city, maybe because of the character of the city, shouts about it enough. I'm sure if it was Liverpool, Manchester or London it might be shouted about a little bit louder and stronger.

"I'm a little bit not on the side of those who say it'd be great to have the derby in the Premier League. I'll be totally honest, I've never cheered a Sheffield Wednesday win.

"Vice-versa it would be the same attitude.

"We have to concentrate on ourselves to make sure we progress in the manner we are doing.

"We're on equal footings as clubs because we didn't manage to stay in the Premier League (last season) and Sheffield Wednesday under the fabulous work of Danny managed to stay in the Championship.

"That's how it is and we all have to look after our own club."

Strikers Kieffer Moore and Rhian Brewster are injury doubts with injuries picked up in the last two matches.