Jake Reeves has unashamedly stoked the fires ahead of the first ever league clash between AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons tomorrow.

The modern-day AFC was a bitter reaction to an independent commission’s ruling that allowed the old Wimbledon FC to move from its south West London roots in 2003.

Consequently, there is no love lost between the two clubs.

Combative midfielder Reeves has waited longer than most to play his role in this drama having missed a League Cup tie between the two sides back in 2014 when on loan from his then parent club Brentford.

For him there’s no point in pretending this is just another game.

“We do know there is a lot more riding on this game than just three points,” he said.

FA Cup 2012: Jack Midson (R) celebrates after scoring

“It's massive, especially as we went up last year and they came down - it will be huge for the fans.

“I was unfortunate not to play in the FA cup tie against them because I was here on loan, and not allowed to play in the FA Cup.

“If you look at how the clubs have progressed on and off the field since, we would like to think we have done it the right way and are going in the right direction where hopefully they are going in the other direction.

"There’s no remorse, no mercy on that comment either."

The 23-year-old believes a hostile atmosphere should be taken as read.

'Massive': Jake Reeves

“For me the hostility and abuse both sets of fans will be giving each other won’t affect me in any way shape or form, where other players might like to see that as it will give them another 10 per cent,” he said.

“Other players may not like it and go into their shell. You will just find that out on the day really.”

What it all means...

In a tight league, Neal Ardley’s side, promoted for the sixth time in 14 seasons last term, find themselves on the fringes of the league One playoffs ahead of the trip up the M1.

MK by contrast are struggling, but particularly with new manager Robbie Neilson in harness, Reeves believes it's wrong to regard his team as favourites.

“Don’t look at their form or where they are in the league because all that comes out of it,” he added. It’s like a derby really where the game is not about who is at the bottom or who’s at the top or even if you are next to each other.

“They all want to impress the new manager, whereas we like to feel we have a style of play we are working to and doing well enough to be up there at the moment.”

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