PAUL Gallagher believes Blackburn Rovers’ top dog East Lancashire status is firmly on the line as derby day mania hits the region.

The former Rovers striker has described Burnley’s trip to Ewood Park in less than a fortnight as ‘the biggest derby in memory’ - and admits he would have loved one more crack at the Clarets himself.

Gallagher, whose summer move to Leicester ended his eight-year Ewood career, featured in Rovers’ FA Cup derby joy in 2005 and will be in the crowd a week on Sunday rooting for his former team mates to extend Burnley’s 30-years of pain against their bitter rivals.

With just a limited number of tickets remaining ahead of the October 18 clash, with the Clarets’ allocation already sold out, the first top flight East Lancashire derby for more than 40 years has caught the imagination of both towns.

Having grown up in Blackburn and supporting the club from an early age, Gallagher knows more than most about the passion surrounding this eagerly-awaited match – but warns Burnley’s recent resurgence has only increased the stakes.

Gallagher, 25, said: “Of course this game is bigger than the FA Cup game. I was lucky enough to have played in both those games and the atmosphere was something I haven’t experienced before or since.

“But at the time, Blackburn were still the big team in the area as they have been pretty much all my lifetime. Now I suppose that reputation is at stake.

“Burnley are now in the Premier League and, credit to them, they have started very well. Whoever wins this game will believe they can say they are the better team.

“You can’t read too much into league position at this stage, but if Burnley beat Blackburn I suppose their fans will argue their team is better than ours.”

Gallagher played in both games against Burnley in 2005 when, after a goalless draw at Turf Moor in the fifth round of the FA Cup, goals from Tugay and Morten Gamst Pedersen earned Rovers a 2-1 replay win.

Rovers have only played their neighbours two other times in Gallagher’s lifetime, Championship wins home and away in the season 2000/2001, with Burnley’s last win coming in 1979.

“Before I left Blackburn, it was the one fixture I was looking out for,” said Gallagher. “I knew it was probably time for me to move on for my career, but I was just hoping I could have one more go against Burnley.

“It didn’t happen, but I wish it could have done. I will be in the crowd for the game and hopefully cheering a Blackburn Rovers win. We have some good players and there is no doubt they will be up for it.

“People who don’t live in the area will not know about this game and its importance. They will know all about it once they see it on the television though. For any Blackburn or Burnley fan, this is the game that matters.”

Gallagher’s Leicester City switch means close pal and former team mate David Dunn will be the only homegrown player from either side to be involved - something ‘Gally’ believes can work to the hosts’ advantage.

He said: “I speak to Dunny regularly and I know he will be looking forward to this game.

"He is in great form at the moment and he would love to continue his goalscoring form in this game.”