The newly-promoted Blues sit top of London League Two North with eight wins out of eight, while their Suffolk rivals are also flying high in the division.

Diss head coach Gavin Brock knows Bury will be desperate to inflict the first defeat on the Blues.

Brock said: "Bury are fourth and they will be gunning for us. Everybody wants to be the team that stops us. But this is a game our boys have been looking forward to too, as it is a local derby."

There are also links between the two clubs which will further add to the derby intensity.

Blues captain Adam Williamson and his Bury counterpart, Tom Young, work for the same company, while the Suffolk side's head coach Jon Curry is well known to a number of Diss players from his time at North Walsham.

After winning promotion via a promotion play-off last season, few would have predicted Diss to take the step up to London League Two North in their stride so comfortably but Brock is an exception.

"I haven't been surprised by the start we have made," said the head coach.

"Anyone in my situation would like to have this squad.

"Our run has been built on a great team spirit. Experienced players like Gideon (Rossouw), Thorpey (Andy Thorpe) and Groomy (Tim Groom) are leading from the front and our young players have stepped up to the mark.

"Winning is a habit and the players have the will to keep the run going."

Bury will be the visitors to Mackenders again next Saturday in the second round of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup, where both clubs could experiment with their line-ups.

In a strange quirk of the fixture schedule, Diss will play their local rivals for the third time in six weeks in the return league game in Bury on December 20.

Tomorrow Diss are boosted by the return from injury of winger Aaron Bliss and flanker Mike Fuller, while full-back Chris Beaird has shaken off the effects of a knee injury.

Diss I: v Bury St Edmunds (H), KO 2.30pm.
Team: M Richards, R Horne, T Groom, O Marriott, C Howard, G Rossouw, M Fuller, A Horne, P Chartier, Z Seward, A Thorpe, A Williamson, C Smith, A Bliss, C Beaird.
Replacements: A Butler, A Kelsall, W Wilby.