LUCAS NEILL rolled his eyes at the mention of his Australian team-mate Harry Kewell.

Whenever the former Millwall man comes up against Leeds his friendship with the United star is always to the fore.

"Harry is fast becoming not my mate!" laughed the Australian.

But now he has another connection - Elland Road boss Terry Venables who was manager of the Australian side for a short time.

"From my experience Terry Venables is a fantastic manager," said the Rovers right back.

"I only got to meet him in a couple of his squads but he is a very simple man, on the training grounds he keeps things simple.

"And so many times in a game you realise what he is saying makes so much sense.

"He has coached at the top level, big teams all over the world.

"I was not surprised when Leeds started playing amazing football.

"They were playing that pretty much anyway but he has brought a bit more out of one or two players."

Neill knows Rovers face a tough task if they are to end their four game run without a win - especially with the likes of Kewell and Marc Viduka ready to tear them apart.

"Harry, as well as most of the team, is very very talented," said Neill. "He could get into any team in England.

"And if Leeds play anything like they are capable of it is going to be tough,

"But if we start to play anything like we are capable of it is going to be one hell of a game, entertainment plus.

"Marc Viduka and Harry are just a small part of our problem. It would be nice for them to have a below par game and us to have a very very good game.

"In the last few games we have lacked the cutting edge but we just have to try and make sure we keep a clean sheet."