One of the biggest matches in the Championship this weekend comes at Elland Road on Friday night when promotion hopefuls Leeds United and Derby County meet.

The hosts are currently situated in the thick of the play-off positions in fifth place - seven points behind Newcastle United in the final automatic promotion spot - and on a five-match unbeaten run in the league, which has included four wins.

Garry Monk's side were in the bottom three at the end of September after they were beaten at home by Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town, but their form has improved significantly since then and the Whites have won their last four matches at home, without conceding a goal.

Meanwhile, it has been a similar story for the Rams, who have moved up the league table since Steve McClaren's return as manager earlier in the campaign.

Derby are seventh, just five points behind their opponents on Friday, and went ten matches unbeaten before they lost 3-0 at Norwich in their first fixture of 2017, although they bounced back well by knocking Premier League West Bromwich Albion out of the FA Cup last weekend.

Here are FIVE key battles that will decide where this huge clash will be lost and won...

Kyle Bartley vs Darren Bent

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Bent found first team football hard to come by at the beginning of the campaign under former Derby boss Nigel Pearson, but he has been back in favour under the leadership of Steve McClaren, scoring four goals.

The 32-year-old showed the quality he can bring with a brilliant goal in the 2-1 win against West Brom last weekend, but he will certainly have a tough battle against Leeds centre-back Kyle Bartley on Friday.

The on-loan Swansea defender has been one of the club's standout performers this term, and as well as his dominance and ability to bring the ball out from the back, the 25-year-old is also the Whites' joint-second top goalscorer this season with four goals in all competitions.

Chris Wood vs Richard Keogh

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You have to wonder where Leeds would be in the table without Chris Wood.

The New Zealand international has scored 16 goals in all competitions for Garry Monk's men this season - 12 more than their joint-second highest marksman, Souleymane Doukara and Kyle Bartley.

The clinical striker will come up against Championship stalwart Richard Keogh on Friday, and the centre-back is another that looks to be back to his best under Steve McClaren - with the duo working in together in McClaren's previous spell with Derby - and he will be looking to keep Wood quiet to boost his team's chance of picking up a positive result at Elland Road.

Charlie Taylor vs Tom Ince

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Ince is widely considered to be one of the most talented players in the Championship, but things haven't always gone his way at Derby this season.

The 24-year-old was hauled off at half-time in the loss to Burton Albion in August and he didn't really get back into favour until the return of Steve McClaren.

Since then, the winger has been in brilliant form - scoring eight goals in his last 11 appearances - and he will need to be closely monitored by Leeds left-back Charlie Taylor on Friday.

The highly-rated full-back has missed the Whites' last few matches with an Achilles injury, but manager Garry Monk will hope that Taylor is back to deal with the threat that Ince can provide.

Liam Bridcutt vs Will Hughes

It might not seem like an obvious key battle, but it could turn out to be one of the most important clashes on the pitch on Friday night.

Derby fans will know how influential Hughes can be after some brilliant performances over the past few seasons. The midfielder's quick feet and ability to find a pass make him one of the Derby players that Garry Monk will have earmarked to be watched closely at Elland Road.

The. job of marking Hughes could be down to Leeds captain Liam Bridcutt, who is back in the side after missing three months with a foot injury.

Garry Monk vs Steve McClaren

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Despite Monk and McClaren both being sacked as Premier League managers last season by Swansea City and Newcastle United respectively, the duo have bounced back and impressed in their new roles in the Championship.

Both bosses like their teams to play attractive, passing football as well as having that tactical nous, and it will be an interesting battle to see who comes out on top on Friday night between a former England manager and a potential future Three Lions boss.

With Leeds winning their last four league matches at Elland Road without conceding a goal, Monk appears to have got it spot on at home. But McClaren has the likes of Tom Ince at his disposal, so the counter attack could be key for his Derby side if they are to pick up a positive result.