Neil Warnock is aware his Leeds side face a testing start to the new npower Championship season, but is hoping rival clubs will also fear facing his men.

The veteran boss has endured a frustrating summer so far, with his public rebuilding plans seemingly on hold as talks of an Elland Road takeover continue.

Warnock does remain in office, though, despite press reports he was set to walk away from his job, and yesterday was handed an opening-day tie at home to Wolves, who were relegated from the Premier League in May.

Tough trips to Blackpool and Peterborough follow that, before home meetings with Blackburn and Hull and a visit to Cardiff complete a gruelling opening six games.

“It`s a great fixture to start with. You really can’t have a better game,” Warnock said.

“People talk about a tough start and it is, but the six teams we’ve got will also be looking at their starts and thinking: ‘We’ve got Leeds’.

“It’s my job to make it as difficult as possible for those teams.”

The man Warnock replaced at Leeds, Simon Grayson, is already back in the Championship, having taken Huddersfield up through the play-offs.

It was his third promotion and a vindication of why Town chairman Dean Hoyle moved quickly to snap him up.

Grayson never manged to beat Cardiff in four attempts while with Leeds, but is hoping for better luck in his new colours after being handed a first-day trip to the Welsh capital.

“The fixture release day is always special no matter what league you are in, but it feels even more special following our promotion,” he said.

“Cardiff have been up in the play-offs for the last three or four seasons now and it will be a great game to start the season with.

“It’s so exciting for everyone.”