Leeds United are hoping the predicted weekend snow and ice spares their mouth-watering home showdown with npower Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.

While Simon Grayson’s men have strung together an eight-match undefeated run, Neil Warnock’s Rangers slipped up for the first time in the league this season as they lost 3-1 at home to Watford last Friday night after going 19 games unbeaten.

United’s groundstaff did a sterling job to ensure the game against Crystal Palace went ahead a week last Saturday, after the last heavy snowfall, and with a crowd of around 30,000 expected tomorrow, the last thing club officials want is a postponement.

The sides haven’t met since February, 2007, when they battled to a goalless draw at Elland Road on the way to United’s relegation from the Championship. Goalkeepers Casper Ankergren and Lee Camp were outstanding and United kept their first clean sheet for almost two months.

Grayson hopes a defence which has conceded 35 goals in 21 league games this season can close ranks, while his potent attack faces its sternest test so far this term against a mean Rangers defence which has let in just 12 goals.

Central defender Andy O’Brien remains a doubtful starter with the thigh injury which kept him out at Burnley last week and United could be unchanged. Grayson said: “QPR have had a great start to the season but they had a poor result against Watford and will be looking to bounce back against us.

“To reach mid-December with just one defeat is a tremendous achievement by them but we will go into the game with great confidence.

"QPR are not the best team in terms of passing – Swansea and Doncaster are more pleasing on the eye – but Neil Warnock has them very well organised.

“Their confidence won’t have been dented too much by the defeat against Watford – Neil won’t allow that to happen – but they will be disappointed and they will be looking to start another unbeaten run.”

Grayson added: “There is a lot of belief in our group and we don’t let goals against affect us. We create a lot of chances and there is a massive desire not to get beaten, as we have proved lately.”