Town head to The Den in fourth place, level on points with third-placed Middlesbrough and six above the hosts, who are fifth.
The clash of the promotion chasers has been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports, with all eyes on what many are already talking up as a potential play-off meeting further down the line.
“Potentially, you never know,” said Edwards when the possibility was put to him in his pre-match press conference this lunchtime. “These big occasions, we’ve enjoyed them lately. I think the atmosphere on the weekend, felt a little bit like that. Because it was a local derby, it felt a little bit different. A bigger game, bigger occasion. The players dealt with that really well and I think it will feel similar on Friday.”
The former Forest Green Rovers manager doesn’t believe his side will be on a come down from that 2-0 victory over 11th-placed Watford.
“No,” he said when asked the question. “To reaffirm that point, immediately after the game when you’d normally expect the dressing room to be full of elation and celebrations, there were one or two people saying, ‘Lads, it’s great, but we can be better than that. We can play better’.
“I think that shows the standards that this group has got and the expectations they’ve got of each other as well. We don’t want it to be after the Lord Mayor’s show in a big game, get a good performance and a win and then go sloppy. It can’t be that because the Championship, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, won’t allow you to drop your levels.”
The 40-year-old says he’s looking forward to what promises to be a cracking atmosphere against Gary Rowett’s side, who they fought back from 2-0 down to take a point at Kenilworth Road last month.
“There are similarities [between the two sides],” said Edwards. “Both teams are very honest. There are talented individuals in both groups. You look at goals scored and against and there are similarities there as well. They’re a very, very good team and Gary’s done a brilliant job.
“It will be an intense game, a big game, important for both teams and we’re expecting a really fiery atmosphere. That’s great. These are the games we want to be involved in, at the right end of the table, a full house, I’m sure, an everyone playing for something. It’s great.”
