adding "active" add-on navigation list an asp.net mvc master page

in default asp.net mvc project, site.master file, there menu navigation list:

<div id="menucontainer">
    <ul id="menu">              
        <li><%= html.actionlink("home", "index", "home")%></li>
        <li><%= html.actionlink("about us", "about", "home")%></li>
    </ul>
</div>

this renders browser to:

<div id="menucontainer"> 
    <ul id="menu">              
        <li><a href="/">home</a></li> 
        <li><a href="/home/about">about us</a></li> 
    </ul> 
</div> 

i wish means boldly set active list item, formed perspective being called. is, user looking during home page, i wish following html created:

<div id="menucontainer"> 
    <ul id="menu">              
        <li class="active"><a href="/">home</a></li> 
        <li><a href="/home/about">about us</a></li> 
    </ul> 
</div> 

i design proceed something like:

<div id="menucontainer">
    <ul id="menu">              
        <li <% if(actionname == "index"){%> class="active"<%}%>><%= html.actionlink("home", "index", "home")%></li>
        <li <% if(actionname == "about"){%> class="active"<%}%>><%= html.actionlink("about us", "about", "home")%></li>
    </ul>
</div>

the pivotal bit here <% if(actionname == "index"){%> class="active"<%}%> line. i know establish tide actionname is.

any suggestions this? or, i'm totally wrong track, there improved proceed this?