Derby County Women forward Kira Rai believes the team have had a positive season to date - but it would top it off if they could get a victory over Nottingham Forest Women this weekend.
The Ewe Rams take on Forest Women in the East Midlands Derby on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off) and Rai feels the Rams can go into the contest without any pressure on their shoulders.
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the clash, Rai spoke of the Women's season so far, derby day and the Ewe Rams' recent integration into the club.
On the 2022/23 season so far...
I think it took us a while to get going. We didn't have the best pre-season so I think we knew it would take a while to gel as we'd had such a big rebuild of the squad.
Since coming back after Christmas, we've been on a real good run and won six on the bounce. Last Sunday was our first loss of the new year (4-1 at Burnley). Since Christmas we really got together as a team and have been all on the same page so it's been quite a good season to be fair.
On the East Midlands Derby...
It's going to be a new experience for a lot of the team but for the few of us that have been there and done it before, I think it's down to us to control the emotions and not let it get the better of those that haven't played in it before. We've got to play the game and not the occasion.
On the last few years...
I'm a Derby County fan myself, I go to all the games so it's different going to watch the men's team and then playing at Pride Park Stadium on Sunday. Going into the changing room, playing on that pitch; it's a nice experience for me and it's one that I look forward to every season.
On whether the rivalry translates to the Women's game...
No matter what age group or gender, Derby against Forest is always a massive game. It's no different for us, it's always our biggest game of the season.
On Nottingham Forest Women...
To be fair to them, they are on a really good run. They are top of the table, they are in a good position but they can't afford to lose any points. In a way, we're in quite a unique position where we're going into it with no pressure and the pressure is all on them so I guess they've got to bring it to us and we've got to do what we can do.
On whether they expected to be competing so high up the table this year...
I think we know our quality as a team and as individuals. We're not surprised that we're fourth in the table but we're also maybe overachieving in terms of where we thought we'd be. We probably gelled a lot quicker than we thought and finishing fourth would be a great achievement for us.
On the Women's team being integrated into the club this summer...
I think it's nice coming into the changing rooms and the Hub at Moor Farm and seeing our own place that says: 'Derby County Women.'
Before training, we've got our own room where the girls can catch up and it gives us a sense of belonging. The Men's team want us here too so it's got a real strong one club feel to it.