Dean Smith is savouring the prospect of pitting his wits against former colleague Garry Monk when he takes Brentford side to Middlesbrough tomorrow.

The Bees boss and his Boro contemporary crossed paths during their playing days, with Smith joining Sheffield Wednesday midway through the 2002-03 season, where fellow centre-back Monk was already on loan from Southampton.

The pair even stayed in the same hotel together as Smith adjusted to life in South Yorkshire but the Brentford chief admits that, back then, there weren’t too many obvious signs the pair would end up embarking on careers in management.

“I was in a hotel for four weeks with him. We played alongside each other and we did very well,” said Smith.

“He was a good lad. You could see the career he went on to have and the captain he became at Swansea. He's an intelligent young man.

“I was there for two months and he was there before me. There were about eight of us in there.

“We probably didn't have the coaching ideals when we were players.

“We didn't have the salt and pepper pots going around at dinner time – we were sensible lads though.”

Brentford head to the Riverside 19th in the Championship table, with only goal difference separating them and the drop zone.

However, they held Derby County to a 1-1 draw in their last outing at Griffin Park, which came just a few days after they recorded a long-awaited first league win of the season at Bolton Wanderers.

Smith is expecting Monk’s Boro, who are currently ninth, to prove a fearsome prospect for his troops.

“They've got a very strong squad and are one of the favourites to go back to the Premier League, and rightly so with the squad and manager they have,” he said.

“I've got a lot of respect for Garry. He did a fantastic job at Swansea and Leeds United. I'm looking forward to a tough game.

“It's one defeat in six but the performances put us in a good place to go up there and get a result.”

Defender Andreas Bjelland faces a late fitness test on a hamstring niggle but captain John Egan is set to return after missing the game against Derby with concussion.