But Jewell is still wary of them and doesn't want vital promotion points thrown away at such a crucial stage of the season.
He knows victory over QPR could put them within a game of the Premiership.
Jewell said: "They won't be coming here for a holiday, that's for sure, and they owe it to themselves, the supporters and everyone connected with their club to try and beat us.
"If the QPR players show as much enthusiasm on the pitch as their manager Ian Holloway has off it, we'll be in for a tough game.
"I get on very well with Holly and while we will be probably kicking lumps out of each other on the touchline, we'll have a drink together afterwards.
"He's a great thinker of the game, very passionate about what he does – I've been on a few courses with him and you can't shut him up!
"When it comes to the end of the day and you're ready to go for a drink, he always has to ask an extra question like the school swot!
"Holly has done a great job at QPR because when he took over they were almost in administration.
"While they can't get into the play-offs now, I think they did fantastically to be in a position where they were challenging."
It will be time for the abacus to come out tomorrow to work out the various permutations at the top of the table.
Sunderland will be promoted if they beat Leicester at the Stadium of Light and Ipswich fail to win at Leeds.
A Latics win and defeat for Ipswich would leave Jewell's men needing just a point at Preston the following week to go up.
But Jewell is taking no notice of the maths, saying: "My target is three points against QPR, nothing more, nothing less.
"Other people can do the guesswork and the time to start thinking about the next game is on Sunday morning."
Jewell is expected to name an unchanged line-up tomorrow, meaning another game sat on the bench for leading scorer Nathan Ellington, with Jason Roberts and Brett Ormerod the preferred choice up front.
Jason Jarrett will make his first home league start for a year.
He lost his place for the final couple of games last season and then missed a large chunk of this term through injury. The central midfielder was recalled to the side a fortnight ago at Cardiff and kept his place against Leicester last week.
"It's good to see Jason back in the frame and I brought him into the side for some physical presence in the middle of the park," said Jewell.
"The changes we've made recently have freshened us up at an important stage of the season and worked well."
Tickets for the derby at Preston on Saturday, April 30, will not now go on open sale after tomorrow's match.
The few remaining tickets will go on general sale on Monday, April 25, at 8am.
There will be no telephone sales and those in the queue for the remaining tickets will be limited to a maximum of four per person.
It is thought that only around 150-200 will be available on Monday.
Fans will be able to vote for their player of the year at tomorrow's game. Ballot boxes will be located in the three home stands.