KEVIN Ball laughed heartily at the idea of re-signing for Burnley for one game only.

“The legs went a long time ago,” he chortled. “I wouldn’t be any good to Brian Laws now.”

Deep down though, you sense the 45-year-old would love to be out there for longer than it takes to do the half-time draw.

The last time the Clarets entertained Blackburn Rovers in a league game, in December 2000, Ball – nicknamed ‘The Hatchet’ – lasted 76 minutes before being sent off for leaving his mark on midfielder David Dunn.

Burnley were trailing 1-0 to a Jason McAteer goal on half-time when they were reduced to 10 men. Without Ball’s ‘take no prisoners’ presence, Marcus Bent wrapped it up at the death.

Ball’s lunge is still talked about today. And although Burnley will need to stamp their authority on tomorrow’s 93rd East Lancashire clash to get the better of Blackburn and give their survival bid a shot in the arm, he has urged Laws’ men not to follow his lead.

“Did it help my team on the night? It didn’t,” he reflected. “But you do things at the time that you think are right.

“You mis-time a tackle, get sent off, and you haven’t contributed to you team. It was disappointing from my point of view because we lost.

“You do get het up.”

But Ball knows, from experience, the importance of not becoming over-zealous.

“In derby games you like to think every player is going to be up for it, but I hope they control themselves as well in the game,” he said.

“There will probably be a bit of venom in the match itself, translating from the stands, but you expect that in derbies.”

If necessary, Ball’s half-time appearance will surely stoke the fire on all sides of Turf Moor.

But the former Sunderland midfield warrior, who is now the Black Cats’ assistant Academy manager, doesn’t expect volume to be a problem.

“I don’t think they’ll need me to get them going,” he said.

“You just want a great atmosphere from 0-90 minutes.

“If fans debate every refereeing decision, that’s what derbies are about.

“The fans love this game - the passion and commitment surrounding it.

“I was fortunate to play in a couple and the atmospheres were great at both grounds, but more so at ours with the Turf Moor faithful behind us.

“And in terms of what Burnley have to fight for, it gives it that extra edge this time.”

Ball is confident no quarter will be given, in either camp, but especially the Clarets’.

“I always watch to see how they are diong, and unfortunately they are in a position where they need the points, so this game takes on a new meaning,” he continued.

“It will be interesting to see how both teams play tomorrow.

“There is local pride at stake in a derby game, but does it take on a new meaning? In some sense every game you play should be the same.

“I always ever thought you could give 100 per cent and no more. But maybe you do find that extra bit of something for games like this.

“And a win could give them a bit of confidence to go on a run in the remaining six games.

“It’s difficult for the fans. It’s a fantastic league to be in and they want their team to stay there.

“But ultimately it’s down to the players and down to the team.

“No doubt Brian Laws and his men will be giving it everything they’ve got.”