LEE Grant has experienced the cut and thrust of several Steel City showdowns.

He experienced many an East Midlands duel during his time at Derby County too.

But the goalkeeper feels Sunday’s Lancashire hotpot will be the tastiest derby yet.

“I’ve heard this one’s particularly ferocious so I’m looking forward to it,” said the former Sheffield Wednesday stopper.

“It’s an exciting one. I’ve played in a few big derbies and it’s nice to be involved in another one.

“I’m hoping the atmosphere and everything else surrounding the game lives up to the hype.

“The two Sheffield clubs is obviously a big one.

“I’m pretty certain it’s going to at least match that.

“It will be an exciting one, there’s no doubt about that.”

Grant played in six Sheffield derbies from 2007-2010, winning three and drawing two – famously doing the double over the Blades in 2008/09 for the first time in 95 years. It was also Wednesday’s first win at Bramall Lane since 1967.

Similarly, Burnley have lost time to make up for having waited over 33 years to beat Blackburn Rovers.

Grant hopes the wait will be over come Sunday.

And he feels it would be achievable with Burnley bucking their ideas up at the back.

While the Clarets boasted an enviable ‘goals for’ column in the Championship earlier in the season, their expansive game made them vulnerable, and it showed with the goals against.

There have been fewer of those in the last month, with three clean sheets recorded in six games under Sean Dyche.

Grant believes the new boss is succeeding in tightening the ship.

“It’s a combination of different things,” said the 20-year-old.

“Repetition and some reminders help.

“When you look at the back five there aren’t a lot of players that haven't got good experience at this level.

“Sometimes you play a certain amount of games and things can get lost in translation, especially with the transition in manager.

“But the new staff have come in and done a good job of just reminding us of basic elements and also some new elements that have helped us to just play together a bit better as a unit.

“The less I have to do means the better we’re playing as a side.”