Leeds will line up in their usual 4-2-3-1, with Stach and Ampadu sitting in the double pivot. That gives them a solid base to build from, and with the full-backs pushing high, they can overload the wide areas. The absence of Willy Gnonto and Gabriel Gudmundsson with thigh injuries is a blow — Gnonto is a game-changer on his day — but the squad has depth, and the system does not rely on one individual. Expect Leeds to press high, force Brentford into mistakes, and look to knife through the lines with quick, vertical passes. At Elland Road, with the crowd behind them, they will set the tempo.

Brentford, under Keith Andrews, are expected to stick with their 4-3-3, and they will not park the bus. They will try to play through the thirds, with Janelt pulling the strings in midfield and Kayode providing width and energy on the flank. The problem is the injuries. Milambo and van den Berg are key cogs, and without them, the back line and midfield lose some solidity. Brentford will have their moments — they are too good not to — but they will also leave gaps, and Leeds have the pace and movement to exploit them. This is a game where the first goal could be everything. If Leeds score early, Brentford will have to open up, and that plays right into the home side's hands. If Brentford nick it first, they will sit deeper and dare Leeds to break them down.