Steve Bruce looks ahead to tonight's massive game against Derby.

Blues manager Steve Bruce has insisted that nothing will be decided in the promotion race after tonight's crunch showdown with leaders Derby County at St. Andrew's.

A victory for Blues against their main rivals would not only see them leapfrog the Rams back up to the top of the league but also open up a seven point gap between themselves and the play-off zone.

That is, of course, a fantastic incentive ahead of this evening's top-two clash but Bruce knows that there is still a long way to go, regardless of the result.

"We have got ten games left after tonight which is a lot of football," said the Blues chief.

"Of course a result for either team would be fantastic for both clubs but I still think it's a bit too early to call.

"If there were four or five clubs in the race then I could understand it but there are eight.

Bruce watched Derby's midweek win at Norwich.

"If you'd have walked in the other night and seen Norwich versus Derby, Norwich played particularly well for an hour.

"They took the lead and had a few chances. But that's this division; there isn't much between top and bottom."

Bruce was at Carrow Road to watch his side's next two opponents and even though Derby didn't play to their best, the boss still saw enough to suggest that his charges face a tough encounter tonight.

The Rams came from behind to win courtesy of a double-strike from former Manchester United trainee Dave Jones, a player that Bruce is well aware of.

But it was former Luton striker Steve Howard that particularly caught Bruce's eye.

"You can see why Derby are where they are in the league. Billy Davies has bought well, they are young and athletic," continued Bruce.

"He has bought shrewdly with a lot of youngsters so there is a lot of pace in their team and they have a good mixture.

Steve Howard will be a big threat for Derby tonight, according to Bruce.

"And in Howard they have a big target man who has done very well and he is the focal point of the side.

"He is someone that we looked at. He is the typically English sort of centre forward that leads the line well.

"Then they have Giles Barnes and Dave Jones, the latter I have known since he was a kid at United with my son.

"Derby are well organised as you would expect from Billy's team and it should be a cracking match."

Bruce has called on his side to show the same tough approach that they produced in recent home games against promotion rivals Sunderland and Cardiff.

"We have got ourselves in a great position," added Bruce.

"We have just got to do what we have done over the last few weeks and show the same sort of resilience."

Stephen Clemence scores the winner at Pride Park.

Blues will be looking to claim their fourth double of the season tonight having already beaten the Rams at Pride Park back in October.

Bruce's team had gone into that game without a win in five league matches and the press had suggested the manager's job could be on the line.

But a deflected second half strike from Stephen Clemence secured maximum points for the visitors and Blues went on to gain 19 points from a possible 21 as they surged back up to the top of the table.

"That Derby game seems like a long time ago," admitted Bruce.

Clemence celebrates his winning strike with Gary McSheffrey and Damien Johnson (who is back from injury for tonight's game).

"You could call it a turning point. It was quite incredible at the time when you look back at it and we hadn't won for five games and it was a crisis.

"Whether I was under extreme pressure I don't know but this club has got to be at the top end of the table.

"All the managers know the score when you come into it and if you have a bad run then you are under the cosh but I was okay with it.

"The one thing I was able to do at Derby was bring back the likes of Stephen Clemence and Damien Johnson who have been with me for four-and-a-half, five years.

"You would expect someone like Stephen Clemence to do well in this division with his ability."

Billy Davies believes the pressure is on Blues this evening.

Billy Davies says that his team will also be going all out for victory but he believes that the pressure will be on Blues to secure maximum points.

"Of course it's a big game for both clubs," said Davies.

"But the pressure is on the home side because they can't afford to lose the game.

"We will certainly go down there knowing that if we win the match then the gap will be very good for us at this stage of the season.

"We will go down with confidence, to be positive, and certainly with the aim of picking up three points."

Bruce has a fully fit squad to choose from with Radhi Jaidi back from suspension, captain Damien Johnson fit again after injury and striker Mikael Forssell returning to contention for the first time since October having played two reserve games since recovering from a knee operation.

Former Blues defender Michael Johnson misses out on a return to St. Andrew's due to a hamstring injury while Paul Boertien (calf) remains on the sidelines for the visitors but Richard Jackson is back following knee trouble.

Craig Fagan will be hoping to come back and haunt his former employers.

Another ex-St. Andrew's employee, Craig Fagan, will be hoping to get his chance to prove his former manager wrong after he was released by Bruce in March 2004 after just four substitute appearances for Blues.

And there could be another old boy in the Derby ranks in the form of Paul Peschisolido, although he hasn't been included in the 16 for the last two games.

There are still tickets available for the game, which kicks off at 7.45pm, priced at £10 for under 12's, from £15 for concessions and from £29 for adults.

They can be bought in person at the Kop ticket office or the Pallasades shop, over the phone by calling 0871 226 1875 option 2 or online by clicking here. Fans will also be able to PAY ON THE NIGHT.