Manchester United s relentless march towards a seventh league title in nine seasons can edge a step closer Saturday when the reigning champions, who have lost just once on the road in the English Premiership, travel to high-flying Leeds.
United. 16 points ahead of closest challengers Arsenal with just 10 games to go. are closing in on another championship while the chasing pack are left to fight lor places in next season's lucrative European Champions League.
One of (hose learns are Leeds who have taken 14 points out of a possible 18 from their last six Premiership matches, lifting them to within two points of third-placed Liverpool.
Leeds have already booked their place in ihe Champions League quarter-finals this season and United can join (hem in the last eight of the competition il (hey lake iwo points from their remaining two group matches.
United are determined not to let complacency gel (he better of them in ihe Premiership's closing stages despite a massive lead.
And United captain Roy Keane is ready to fight all the way to make sure the Premiership crown remains in ihe Old Trafford trophy cabinet.
"We can't let our competitive level drop in the Premiership, we've got to keep going out there and doing the business." said midfielder Keane.
"The media might think the Premiership is over but (hat's noi the way I look al il.
"We losi il a few years ago from a very good position and until I've got ihe medal in my hand it's not over."
British bookmakers were paying out on a another United title win long before Arsenal were gunned down 6-1 at Old Trafford last Sunday but Keane believes (he champions should take nothing for granted.
"We played well but maybe Arsenal were poor on the day," he said.
"It was good to have a performance like that because we were very disappointing against Valencia in the Champions League.
"I said what 4 thought about our performance against Valencia and I hope my comments had an effect against Arsenal because even, before that there were a lew gamvs wIh ii- I don i think we played well.
Leeds midfielder David Baily will pit his wiis against the equally tenacious Keane in what is likely lo be an explosive confrontation.
Batty, who helped Leeds win their Iasi title in 1992 ahead of Manchester United, feels that not even that team could hold a candle io ihe current crop of stars at I.Hand Road which includes Harry Kewell, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane and Olivier Dacourt.
Ihe first time I was involved with Ix-eds was back in 1987 and, of course, I was part of the championship winning side of 1992.'' said Batty, now in his second spell
with the Yorkshire club.
"I have to say this team is belter (han any side Leeds have ever had. And il can get belter as well.
"I cannot really compare il to the Don Revie era (of (he 1970s) (hough because 1 don't know too much about that time. What 1 do know is we have sonic great players here and a strong squad as well.
"So can we challenge the dominance of Manchester United? It's easy to say yes’, but you don't know.
" 1 hey are so far ahead of everybody at the moment and it's going to take a while to catch them up.
"We've got to think about ourselves for the time being and see where we end up."
Liverpool. in third, visit Leicester, buoyed by the news that Norwegian full-back Vegard I leggem and midfielder Danny Murphy have both relumed lo full training.
Czech striker Patrik Berger and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp are also on the road to match fitness. And how boss Gerard Houllier will appreciate the boost as his side embark on what could be a stamina-sapping 20 more games this campaign before the end of the season if they go all the way to the FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals as well as (heir battle for a Champions league spot.
FIXTURES (1500 GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Arsenal v West Hani, Coventry v Chelsea. Derby v Tot-tenham, Everton v Newcastle, Leeds v Manchester United (1130 GMT). Leicester v Liverpool, Manchester City v Southampton. Middlesbrough v Charlton
Sunday: Ipswich v Bradford (1600 GMT)
Monday: Sunderland v Aston Villa (2000 GMT)