FOR Chris Gunter, there is more than one reason to look forward to this weekend with a great sense of anticipation.

Tomorrow's trip to Cardiff City is a return to familiar territory for the full-back, who began his career with the Bluebirds.

And it will also provide him with the opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces away from football, with his childhood home in Newport only a 20 minute drive away.

But, most importantly of all, the Welsh international believes the fixture will provide the opportunity for Nottingham Forest to get back to playing the kind of attacking football they are capable of.

Last weekend Forest managed to grind out a creditable 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, against a strong, physical Neil Warnock side that did not give them much room to manoeuvre.

But, when they face a Cardiff City side that has scored more goals than any other in the Championship, Gunter is looking forward to a more open, entertaining encounter.

"It will be a good game, in terms of football. They are not going to kick it from back to front, they like to play," he said.

"But the way they play can also leave them a little open.

"They conceded three at Sheffield United – but they also scored four.

"It might be a case of whoever defends better will win the game. We will certainly try to create chances, I am sure the team that defends better will come out on top."

Cardiff lie second in the table and are on a good run of form.

But, with Forest having collected 16 points from their last six games, Gunter believes they have every reason to be confident themselves.

"We have collected a lot of clean sheets in recent weeks and we want to keep that going," he said.

"They are the top scorers in the league, so this would be a good time to get another one.

"Hopefully the boys, attacking wise, can do their stuff and help us to maintain our unbeaten record away from home, which is a good thing for us to have.

"The goal we conceded at Palace was not really something we could have defended, as it was a well taken set-piece.

"But Campy had to make one or two very good saves, so we did allow them to have a couple of chances.

"But looking back over recent games, we have defended quite well."

Forest are also the only side in the division who are unbeaten away from home this season. And Gunter is confident they can extend that record as well, if they can produce their best.

"I am sure we will be tested again tomorrow, but the positive thing for me is that we are learning how to play away from home," he said.

"We know how to battle and how to respond when we go a goal down; how to bounce back.

"And we also know how to keep a lead when we score first, as we showed at Plymouth.

"It will be a good test for us. But we should be going there looking for a win, believing we can win.

"When we are on the kind of run we are, there is no reason why we shouldn't feel that way.

"They have been doing well – but so have we. If we play as well as we are capable, there is no reason why we can't win.

"We are going to go there in good form and high confidence.

"We want to make it a good trip home for us and our fans.

"The numbers that we took to Palace last weekend were unbelievable and I am sure there will be quite a few there again tomorrow."

The one doubt in Gunter's mind is how he will be received by the home fans as he returns to play in the city for the first time.

"I have been asked that a couple of times and I really don't know how they will react to me," he said. "It is a toss of a coin.

"Knowing Cardiff fans, it could go either way. Some of the fans are a bit unpredictable.

"I am not bothered what reception I get from them to be honest, as long as the Forest fans in the corner of the stadium are behind the team.

"It will be a different sort of occasion for me, because I have never been back.

"But the main thing for me is to go there and try to win the game, that is the important aim.

"The good thing is that my family will not have to travel far to see the game, they live in Newport, where I was brought up.

"It is only 20 minutes down the road – although they will sit in with the Forest fans now.

"They haven't missed a game this season, my family. They are looking forward to it because it is close to home.

"But it is a long trip for the Forest fans to make, but I am sure they will give us the same support as they have for the rest of the season."

And, if Forest can extend their unbeaten run to seven, then at least one corner of Cardiff's new stadium will be cheering him off the pitch.