Image source, Rex Features

There will be few at Oakwell who hadn't sensed this battle against relegation coming for Barnsley, having been in the bottom three since October's 5-1 defeat by Preston.

It is not as if they are without positives. Play-off hopefuls Fulham were beaten twice, Millwall overcome at The Den and two draws with West Bromwich Albion.

However, there have been 20 losses, enough to leave the Tykes bottom at this crucial juncture where three games are left - against top-six sides Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Brentford - to avoid slipping back into the third tier.

"We've probably got the toughest run in on paper, with the teams coming up," skipper Alex Mowatt told BBC Radio Sheffield. "But we've always performed better against bigger opponents.

"With West Brom and Fulham we've done better in those games, so hopefully it gets everyone pumped up more."

Image source, Rex Features

The outpouring of emotion and joy when Pablo Hernandez stroked the ball in off the post to seal victory late at Swansea on Sunday showed just how much it would mean for Leeds to end their top-flight exile.

Last season's disappointment has been agonised over so many times, where a slide at the back-end of the season saw the Whites miss out on the top two and lose to Derby in the play-offs.

Now with four points needed to see out the job from nine available, it could be easy for anxieties and nerves to creep into Marcelo Bielsa's side.

"It's difficult to be focused because we are not stupid, we can see the table," midfielder Mateusz Klich told BBC Radio Leeds.

"The season is not finished yet, and the Barnsley game will be hard, they have to win the game and that will motivate them.

"I hope it will be an open game, because I imagine they will wait for our mistakes and counter-attack, as many teams defend when they come to Elland Road."

Image source, Rex Features

Obviously this game is not just about league positions and futures, it's a game rooted in regional pride.

Yorkshire's white rose might bring folk together, say on holiday or with England or even when it comes to cricket; but when it's football - that union goes out of the window.

Leeds have the rich history and worldwide support, while Barnsley, a town built on the graft of pitmen, has largely been in the shadows of its more illustrious neighbours.

Whether there will be the same feeling, the same intensity without fans, is something to be seen.

Leeds United make one change to the starting XI from the Swansea win, with the injured Kalvin Phillips replaced by Gaetano Berardi. Matchwinner Pablo Hernandez is again left on the bench.

Barnsley make two changes from the goalless draw with Wigan, as Aapo Halme and Conor Chaplin come in for Elliott Simoes and Marcel Ritzmaier.

Leeds: Meslier; Ayling, Berardi, Cooper, Dallas, White, Klich, Harrison, Costa, Roberts, Bamford.

Subs: Casilla, Casey, Douglas, Struijk, Stevens, Shackleton, Alioski, Poveda, Hernandez.

Barnsley: Walton, Ludewig, Sollbauer, Andersen, J Williams, Halme, Mowatt, Styles, Chaplin, Brown, Woodrow.

Subs: Collins, B Williams, Bahre, Thomas, Ritzmaier, Schmidt, Oduor, Wolfe, Marsh.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

While neither side would achieve those aims tonight, as there are just two games left after this one, it would go some way to reaching those targets.

Leeds would move within a point of promotion with victory. That's one golden carrot.

Barnsley could climb off the bottom of the table, within a point of Charlton in 21st. Another equally desirable reward.

Image source, Rex Features

It's so close that Leeds fans can almost taste the spraying champagne of success.

It's so close that Barnsley fans are almost steeling themselves for the disappointment.

It's a time for crossing everything, praying to whoever, and chewing whatever fingernails are left by this stage of the campaign.

Top-of-the-table Leeds are edging closer to their Premier League return after 16 years away; bottom side Barnsley are clinging on at the precipice, desperate to avoid dropping back into League One.

Who wants it more? We'll find out this evening.