KEVIN ROBERTS says beating Wrexham's biggest rivals to give the promotion challenge a welcome boost would be "the perfect day."

Wrexham go into Sunday's cross border derby against Chester unbeaten in 12 games but nine have ended in a draw, leaving the seventh placed Reds eight points behind leaders Macclesfield Town.

The Blues are battling against relegation but although Roberts is expecting a tough game, the right-back is looking to add to November's 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture and complete the double over his former club.

"It is going to be a difficult game, no matter where they are in the table," said Roberts.

"It is a derby and anything can happen so we have got to be professional about it.

"It is a double header, we get the six points off our rivals and we get the three points to go up the table so it would be the perfect day.

"Whether it is one of my former clubs or not, it is a derby and it is the biggest game of the season for us and the fans.

"We got three points at their place and it would be nice to take six points off them. But more importantly, we need the three points to keep pushing at the top of the table."

A bumper crowd is expected and Roberts says having the backing of thousands of fans galvanises Wrexham, who have not lost at home in the league since the opening day of the season.

"We are expecting a big crowd," said Roberts. "I don't know how many but it will definitely be over the 5,000 mark, maybe over 6,000.

"The more fans we get, I think the better we play and react to them supporting us so hopefully they can all get behind us.

"I think we will have a good 5,000 of our own fans at least and that helps the lads a lot."

Captain Shaun Pearson, who got the winner at Chester, Manny Smith and James Jennings have scored a healthy 10 goals between them this season, with Roberts the only player in Keates preferred four-man defence yet to score, but he insists clean sheets are the priority.

"I get a little bit of stick off the lads but they let me off a touch because I don't go up for corners," said Roberts.

"The other three lads do and we have got a lot of goals from defenders which isn't bad. It is a good return from them three at the minute anyway!

"I will try and chip in with one but I am more than happy with the clean sheets which are more important."

Roberts, who scored for Chester against Wrexham at The Racecourse in November 2007, would love to get off the mark for Wrexham in Sunday's derby.

"It would be superb," said Roberts. "Anytime I get off the mark will be good, even better if it was against Chester and for three points.

"But three points I will take right now.

"It was a long time ago that I scored for Chester in the derby. It wasn't a bad hit, hopefully I can put one in at the other end."

Roberts began his career at Chester and he went on to play for Cambridge United and Halifax Town before joining Wrexham last summer.

"It was a long time ago that I played for them so I think I am always forgotten about!" added Roberts.

"But because I am at Wrexham now, I think I might get a bit more stick than what I have done previously, but it is part and parcel of the game."