The former Bradford defender should be fit although new signing Peter Gilbert is breathing down his neck.
Luckless Heckingbottom, who has only just got back into the team following a long injury lay-off, pulled his groin at the weekend but has been given the all clear to play.
He told Footymad after the Stoke clash: "It's a massive game – that's why I was saying in my head a bit 'I hope my groin is ok' because you want to be fit for games like that and fortunately the physio told me it'll only be a few days so I am now really looking forward to it.
"Obviously I have never experienced a Sheffield derby so everything is going to be completely new to me. I have played in lots of derbies because I have had a few clubs now but I am really expecting big things from this one – it should be excellent."
After a poor run in the league and only one point from the last four games, Heckingbottom knows the team have to lift their selves for the clash.
He added: "We are up for it but we haven't really thought about it that much to be honest, we have hardly mentioned it because we just take each game as it comes to get as many points as possible. We are disappointed about Stoke because we did play well but there are reasons behind why we didn't get a result and will iron those problems out.
"But it's a derby game, a big cup game and those are the games you don't want to bet on – people may not put us on their coupon because there may be an upset. They'll be massive favourites and they are running away with things at the moment, United and Reading are the two best teams in this division – but we haven't played them yet, they haven't played us so it is going to be good."
JP McGovern's hopes of playing have hit a snag after he tore a muscle in training - he will be out for a further three weeks.