Jimmy McNulty is expecting a red-hot atmosphere when Oldham Athletic visit the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday.
It is the first league game between the sides outside of the EFL, with a bumper crowd expected to be in attendance.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester’s Total Sport show on Thursday night, the Head Coach says Dale must be “ready to roll” from the off.
“My memories of this game were that it was a frantic and frenetic derby day feel,” said McNulty.
“I loved representing Rochdale in these games, and we’ve started to generate that feel around it on the training ground this week. We’d be wrong not to.
“The fans love derby day – they’ve been looking forward to it. It’s the first one outside of the league which is huge. It’s going to have a different feel to it because of that.
“Oldham are obviously riding the high of having a new manager in the building, so they’ll be feeling a bounce off that and a good win at the weekend.
“My memories of this game are that it’s red hot and you have to go into the game ready to roll.”
Asked whether the players can use the atmosphere to their advantage or try to treat it as another game, McNulty says the players must continue to show the fight they have all season.
“There are different strategies and we’re all individuals – we all employ different things in our minds to get the best out of ourselves.
“I just hope as many of our players as possible play the game and not just the occasion. The occasion will play a part of course, but the game is the most important thing.
“As long as they’re doing the utmost for the team and show the fight that they have shown thus far, to represent Rochdale, I know I’ll be proud of whatever the outcome is.”
Oldham come into the game boosted by the appointment of their new Manager, Micky Mellon, who will be taking charge of his first game this weekend.
“He's a previous Assistant Manager of mine – I worked under Micky which adds a certain angle on it.
“I’m very respectful of Micky. He’s very respected in football and he deserves that status.
“It’s a big, big appointment for Oldham and he probably suits them. They’ve got a monster of a squad and financially we’re in different ball parks us and Oldham right now.
“But we can win any game in this league, and I always think we’re going to win the next one. I do think we can win this game.”
The full interview with McNulty on BBC Radio Manchester can be listed to HERE, from 45 minutes in.