Millwall manager Neil Harris has warned Fulham they will need to deal with an intimidating atmosphere and have the stomach for battle at The Den on Friday night.

The London rivals meet in a crucial game in the race for the Premier League, with Millwall bidding for a play-off place and Fulham chasing automatic promotion.

The Den is renowned for its hostile environment created by a sold-out home crowd and Harris has said opposition players “sink or swim” in the atmosphere.

Ryan Sessegnon, 17, will play for the first time since being named Championship Player of the Year and EFL Young Player of the Year and he and his Fulham team-mates have been told to expect a fiery reception.

“The Den can be a hostile environment and an intimidating place to play,” said Harris.

“Not for my players. My players are going to thrive off it and enjoy it. That is down to the opposition to deal with it in the best way they can.

“We have seen a lot of teams over the years struggle. I hope it gives us that added edge to be able to impose ourselves on the game.

“I know when The Den is full and it is rocking we are a very difficult club to stop in that scenario. Players sink or swim, my players will be swimming. They will be flying.

“It is your home environment and you want it to make your players produce their best. It has certainly done that in the past few years. We have got the best performances out of the players when The Den has been alight.”

Harris added: “Ryan Sessegnon’s talent is there for all to be seen. I certainly hope he is playing in the Premier League next year because that will benefit the England team in the future. It is going to be a challenge to stop him and his team-mates on Friday.”

Friday’s game is between the top form sides in England, with Millwall unbeaten in 17 matches while Fulham have not lost in 21 games

Harris has done a remarkable job at Millwall and Burnley boss Sean Dyche says the 40-year-old should be named Manager of the Year ahead of Pep Guardiola.

Harris said: “Dychey, because we talk, he knows where we are at. I think there are seven or eight teams in the four divisions who deserve a special mention. It is very kind when people talk about us as one of those team.

“I am the first to heap praise on what Dychey has done at Burnley, what John Coleman has done at Accrington and what Paul Hurst has done at Shrewsbury.

“But there are a lot of teams at the top, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves, Nathan Jones at Luton. Just because they have got the biggest budgets, it is just as important they achieve.”