BEATING Blackburn Rovers would be bigger than doing the Steel City double, says the man who ended Sheffield Wednesday’s 96-year wait.

Brian Laws masterminded 1-0 and 2-1 wins over play-off finalists Sheffield United last season, recording the Owls’ first double in almost a century.

It is 31 years since the Clarets last claimed bragging rights in the East Lancashire duel, and 32 years since they beat them at Turf Moor.

Laws is desperate to end that wait tomorrow and send supporters to work on Monday morning with a smile on their face.

“That would be even bigger than the double, even though we broke a 96-year record,” he said. “A lot of Wednesday fans had never seen in their lifetime.

“That in itself gave a huge boost in the arm to the football club and a massive feelgood factor, without question.

“I'd never seen so many smiling faces going into work and enjoying it.

“I want our Burnley fans to do exactly the same.

“This derby is as big as them all. “It’s not an ordinary game and I’m not going to disguise it, so bring it on.

“That’s how I approached the Sheffield derby and that’s how I’ll approach this one, in the same manner.

“We’ve got to embrace it, not hide it or disguise it, because that’s impossible.

“Because they’ve not had the opportunity to play each other for a long time, there aren’t many games in that 30-odd year period – they’ve not got a lot to hang on to, so that means when it does come they look forward to it a hell of a lot. Some of the supporters have never seen one (a win).”