Bristol City have been right up there all season after enjoying a great start to Championship life. It's their first season back at this level since being relegated in 1999.
For the managers it's a first Severside derby. Both have experienced derby games before so they should be aware of the passion they generate.
When asked what he thought the atmosphere would be like Jones answered
"I don't know until I get there what it will be like because I have never been in a Cardiff against Bristol game before.
"I have been in derby matches. I know the atmosphere is electric and they are good games to play in. You probably don't enjoy them mind because it is 100mph and nobody wants to lose face.
"I would hope the atmosphere would be good at Bristol and that we will have a lot of fans up there making a lot of noise.
"They are the closest club to us, we should have a few fans and there should be a really good atmosphere.
"I am not really surprised Bristol have been doing well. They came up and have been on a high.
"They had their little fall away recently and it is a matter of whether they can maintain it now. But they are a good side.
"It will be tough, but, then again, every game we face is tough and this will be no different. The extra factor is that it is a derby."
Jones takes his side to Ashton gate looking for a third straight victory. Cardiff have moved clear of the bottom three by six points and looking up are just 7 points from the play off places.
"We have to go with the attitude of trying to get all three points wherever we play," Jones continued.
"We are coming off the back of two good results which makes the league look a little bit rosier.
"The gap widens from the bottom and we get a little bit closer to the play-off zone. I think we are seven points off there now.
"It is a big corner to turn, but I would prefer to go to Bristol off the back of two wins than losses.
"The Blackpool game was an ugly victory if you like, a rearguard action, but away from home you have to do that some times in this league, you have to do it at home too some times, to be honest.
"But we will just keep our heads down and work hard that is what I keep telling the lads. Some times it takes getting close to the bottom to come out stronger people."
Hopefully Jones will be the one ssmiling after coming face to face with an old friend in Gary Johnson.
"He's a good friend and we've been quite close for a number of years now," Johnson told www.bcfc.co.uk.
"But we are both professionals and we haven't spoken for weeks now, maybe longer with this game in mind.
"When three o'clock comes along we'll be very focussed and there will be no friends in the opposing technical area at that point.
"Of course we'll chat after the game, when we'll be saying well done to the opposition or bad luck - depending on the how the game pans out. Hopefully I'll be saying bad luck!"
Bristol City v Cardiff City. 3:00pm today.