FIVE down, one to go and Burnley head into tonight's final derby of the season looking to sign off with a flourish.

The Clarets are yet to taste derby victory this season but have a double incentive to put the record straight against play-off chasing Preston North End at Turf Moor.

As well as chalking up a fourth straight home win, Burnley are desperate to make amends for last Sunday's thumping at Blackburn Rovers and finish with honours even with one of their local rivals.

"It's just the one you need to get over last weekend," said assistant manager Sam Ellis.

"It's the sort of life where you can't dwell on things. You can pick up from your mistakes, if you've caused yourself problems you can sort it out and if the opposition have been extremely good you just hope the next lot aren't.

"They are good games for us to go into. They get the adrenalin flowing and you just hope you can get the players right for it.

"Of course we're wounded after things like that and we try and go out and put it right. Mostly our players have had the character to do that and we're relying on them again tonight.

"It's nothing that we can go out and do. We're relying on the players to go and do it again for us. You look to the lads who've suffered before and know what it's about and know what's needed to come back."

And Ellis admits that there is also a need to try and repay a debt to the fans. "You say the pressure is off but after last weekend's game and the supporters we've talked about then, there is pressure on us to do well tonight, if not for ourselves then for the supporters and the people that come week-in, week-out. They deserve it and we will try and give it them.

"The supporters have been very good. They've come in their numbers. I think they feel we're trying to do our best. Obviously it's a bad blow for them last weekend on a personal level and we'll just try and put it right for them," he added.

However, Preston will be far from sacrificial lambs and have every incentive to try and complete a second double in three seasons to maintain their top-six challenge.

Last season's Second Division champions have won seven of their last ten games to move into sixth place and Ellis admitted: "We admire Preston very much. They've been a good club over the last four or five years. The manager's done very well. They are a good guide for ourselves in that three seasons ago we nearly got relegated and they nearly went up.

"Last season we closed the gap and it willl be interesting to see the gap at the end of this season. Their position says that they're very good and I can only say it's a good test for us and we're looking forward to it."

North End have won nine times away from home but Burnley have been happiest in their own back yard and Ellis is naturally keen to extend that record -- by doing it the hard way if necessary.

"We've had a couple of good wins but we've been hanging on at the end. Obviously we'd like them to be more convincing but we have the character to hang on when the opportunity is there and whether it will be that again tonight who knows ?

"We'll be doing our best and like I say there's no better game, or opportunity to do that," he said.