Leeds United are "on a different level" compared to their Championship rivals, says Harry Redknapp, with the former FA Cup-winning manager admitting he would be shocked if they did not achieve promotion.
The Whites currently sit atop the second tier on goal difference ahead of West Bromwich Albion, nine points clear of the play-off race below them.
Marcelo Bielsa and his side look poised to right the wrongs of last term's near-miss, when a second-act stutter across the latter stages of the season cost them a top-two spot.
They showed off their Premier League credentials on Monday in their cup defeat to Arsenal, narrowly going down away to the Gunners after a brilliant first-half performance.
Veteran coach Redknapp now, who most recently was in charge of Birmingham City, watched their performance at the Emirates Stadium and felt that if they can continue such form, they will not be stopped from reaching the top flight.
"The other night, [in the] first half, Leeds absolutely slaughtered [Arsenal]," the former Tottenham boss told talkSPORT.
"Leeds were excellent. When I look at Leeds, if they can play like that, they look on a different level to anything else in the Championship.
"There's two runners in the Championship, them and West Brom. You'd be surprised if Leeds didn't get up this year."
Leeds resume their league campaign this weekend when they host play-off hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday in a Yorkshire derby encounter at Elland Road.
The match gives them a chance to reunite with former manager Garry Monk too, who is now in charge of the Owls.
