The Swansea City midfield has dominated the last derby battles and was certainly the reason why they triumphed back in November at the Liberty Stadium
But McPhail – twice sent off in the last four derby games – believes that Cardiff can get the better of tomorrow' midfield encounter and told the Western Mail “It is quite straight forward, they have got a different style than we have and they have got the ball a bit more than we have.
“Our systems are different but every game we play against them we figure them out a bit more – hopefully this will be no different.
“They have played well against us, they’ve set up the team well and they’ve got a system that suits them.
“We have got to be patient if they have a lot of possession, we know what we have to do and we need to keep focussed on our job.
“It is definitely nothing to do with desire, we go into every game 100 per cent to win the football game and if it is a derby game we know what it means to the fans and we will be up for it as much as they are.
“It’s huge, we all live in this part of the world so we understand. I’ve been here four years now and I understand what it means to everyone around here. There’ll be no better group of lads going out and trying to fight to bring back the points for the fans.
“It’s part and parcel of football, you have ups and downs, but I have enjoyed the atmospheres and the banter with the fans.
“I don’t feel like I owe anyone anything, it’s football, things happen on the pitch and if a tackle is there to be made I will make it again. If I get sent off then so be it, but I won’t be going out to get sent off that’s for sure.
“Everyone else keeps speaking about it but I go out and try and play my football with tackles, headers or what ever comes up – I will have to do it.
“I’ve played in a derby after the red cards, at the 2-2 at Ninian Park, so it does not make me want to win anymore.
“Obviously no-one goes out to try and get sent off but things occur in games, you make a tackle or do something silly and you get cautioned.
“I look forward to every game and trying to win and make sure my own performance is right on the pitch.
“It’s been one of those seasons when we seemed to have picked up a lot of injuries and the other night was no exception
“But whoever goes out will know it is a really big game, and we will do our best to try and win it.
“We’ve been really good in the last five or six games.”
This article first appeared on JACKARMY.net.