McLeish would relish Villa cash

But the former Scotland boss insists he does not have any sleepless nights regarding the financial gulf between the two teams.

O'Neill splashed out at the end of the transfer window on Richard Dunne and James Collins, both of whom are in contention to face Blues.

It is in contrast to McLeish, who says he has spent only £10m since Blues gained promotion from the Championship.

McLeish said: "I'd hope I could spend £40m one day and I'd like to believe I could spend it well and choose the right players.

"When you are spending at that level, you've got a better chance of being correct with the signings. But it is not something I lie awake and think about every night and feel jealous of Martin and other managers who can spend that kind of money.

"You've just got to manage things as best as you can and get the best out of the players.

"My job is to get the best out of the players at my disposal and, if I do that, regardless of what happens, then I'll be able to sleep at night."

McLeish is keen to clarify the amount of money he has spent in bolstering his squad during the transfer window.

He said: "I keep reading every week I've spent £18-20m in terms of Birmingham's spending but as far as I am aware we've spent £10m on transfers. Yes, on top of that there are wages and agents' fees which take the bill up, but the transfer fees are £10m. That is what we've spent. The board have backed me and I thank them for that."

Birmingham were hammered 5-1 at Villa Park in the last derby 16 months ago but McLeish is not dwelling on that experience, even though it effectively doomed his side to relegation. And he believes he now has a stronger side at his disposal.

He said: "I've had many disappointing experiences in the past but you've got to move on. You don't dwell on them.

"I don't see the point of dredging it up again. We lost the game heavily against our biggest rivals, it was disappointing. Villa were on a real charge at the time.

"Maybe tactically we went too open against them but we were in a precarious stage in the league and I thought if we could get a victory it would give us enormous confidence.

"There is no doubt we are a better team now and overall I've been happy with the way we have started the season."

McLeish is weighing up whether to hand a full debut to striker Christian Benitez tomorrow.

Benitez has impressed when coming on as a substitute since his summer move from Santos Laguna after slowly building up his fitness following a shoulder operation.

It may depend on Benitez's physical condition after returning from two World Cup qualifiers with Ecuador.

Fellow striker Cameron Jerome is again sidelined with an ankle injury while ex-Villa striker Kevin Phillips is likely to be among the substitutes against his former club.