Danny Batth set to celebrate Wolves century

But for the Brierley Hill-born centre-back, every game for his boyhood club feels just like the first.

"It is not a feeling which gets old," he says. "Every Saturday, every Tuesday when we have a game and I am leading the lads out, it is a great feeling.

"I used to sit in the stands and look down and think - 'that will be me' but you never know what is going to happen in football.

"I enjoy it and I think that is the main thing in the game. You have to make the most of it and take it all in."

Clocking up a century of league games for Wolves at the age of 24 is nothing to be sniffed at but perhaps more impressive is Batth's record of consecutive starts, which currently stands at 88.

His name has been on every team sheet since Kenny Jackett took over as the club's head coach two summers ago.

In Wolves' rise from League One to the top six of the Championship, Batth has been a driving force.

"I always felt I was close to things here and if I got my chance I would have an influence and bring my own qualities to the team and the squad," he said. "Getting the chance with a new manager was a fresh start for everyone.

"He (Jackett) has obviously given me an opportunity and I would like to think I have put myself forward as someone consistently pushing the lads in training, pushing myself and the club benefit from that."

Under Jackett, Batth has become one the dressing room's key voices.

"He has incorporated the young players a lot more," adds Batth. "Given people like Carl Ikeme, myself and Jack Price a chance, a regular berth playing football.

"He said to us: 'it is your club, you look after the dressing room and the lads in there'.

"I think that has had a knock on effect in training and the performances you see on a Saturday."

Having won four games on the spin, coupled with the dramatic manner of Monday's victory over Leeds, Wolves at present give the impression of an unstoppable force.

Yet Batth is keen to urge a word of caution, with the knowledge momentum can be stopped suddenly, even in the unlikeliest of places.

When Blues visited Molineux in November, they had just been beaten 8-0 at home by Bournemouth, while Wolves had the chance to go top of the table.

But the game ended 0-0 and Jackett's team went on to lose the next five games.

"In football you are only inches from things being turned on their head and we can't get carried away," says Batth. "We have to continue as we have been and hopefully the good form goes with us.

"They are a tricky team and there is obviously a lot of importance on it because of it being a derby.

"It is a game we felt we should have won at Molineux and they showed the threat they have on the counter attack.

"They have some good forward players and a fairly solid defence, barring the odd occasion. "They have been solid as a team and we know we will have our work cut out.

"It is not a given we will go there and get anything. We have to make sure we are at it right from the start.

"For me, the reason we are doing well is because we are not under-estimating teams and we have learned our lesson from early in the season where it has been tough and perhaps got a bit ahead of ourselves.

"We are now in a situation where we understand it is important to go into the games with the right mental set up and with the right effort and determination that we can overcome whoever is there."

For Batth, there is the added motivation of wanting to get one over on former Wolves midfielder David Davis, now at St Andrews.

The pair rose through the ranks together at Molineux but Batth admits their friendship will be briefly put aside.

"Off the pitch we are good friends but I'll be keeping my phone switched off between now and Saturday night that is for sure," he said. "We keep in touch and I know they have turned the corner with their new manager.

"I'm sure he'll want to show Wolves fans what they are missing."