Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says his side will not be afraid of losing when they host their biggest rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

The Steel City clubs have not played one another since a goalless draw in March 2019.

Lifelong Blades fan Wilder is in his second spell in charge of United and is unbeaten in his four previous derbies against the Owls.

“We can’t let the game pass us by. We understand what this can do for a season and how important it is for us,” he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

“We have a chance of going top of the league if things go for us over the weekend and extending our outstanding home record.

“I’ve lived in this city most of my life and I know what this means to the man in the street.”

He added: “Having been brought up in and witnessed it close hand, not as a player unfortunately – one of my biggest regrets, it’s swung one way and then the other through the years.

“It’s unpredictable, it’s passionate and it’s important to everybody.”

The Blades have made an excellent start to the season after being relegated from the Premier League last season.

They have won their past five games in front of their own fans without conceding a goal.

Wilder said that keeping a level head would be key.

“You’ve got to get the balance right. I’m emotionally tied in to it but there’s a lot of tactical preparation that needs to go into it,” the 57-year-old added.

“Everyone will try and pick up on little bits like who has played in one before and who hasn’t, he’s from Sheffield and he’s from Germany… It’s all talk but the main event is at 12:30 on Sunday.

“You’ve got to be emotionally balanced about it.”