MICHAEL Duff insists there will be no ‘old pals’ act’ as he faces a reunion with two ex-Clarets’ team-mates at Turf Moor tonight.

Former captain Steven Caldwell and winger Wade Elliott return with promotion-chasing Birmingham City.

The Blues can strengthen their top six position, giving Caldwell and Elliott the chance of another trip to Wembley, three years after winning promotion to the Premier League with Burnley.

But Duff insists the Clarets will be doing all their can to scupper their play-off push.

“The manager has made it quite clear that he doesn’t want anyone to go into end of season mode because he has already started for next year,” explained the long-serving defender.

“He has said people are playing for places, contracts etc for next season and I think Saturday showed that we are not just ready to see the season out.

“At 1-1 at half-time we weren’t playing very well and we could have just chucked it in. But we are all professional footballers and most professionals don’t like getting beaten at tiddly winks or chess and so obviously a game of football you always want to win.

“If we win (tonight) we get back into the top half of the table so that has to be an incentive for us.”

But Duff hopes Elliott, who scored the winning Wembley goal in May 2009, and Caldwell, who led the Clarets up the steps to receive the play-off trophy, receive a warm welcome from the Turf Moor faithful tonight.

“I hope they get a good reception and I think they should do. They are two of my best mates in football so it will be good to see them,” said the 34-year-old.

“They were two great players for us and two good servants as well, and they will both go down in history.

“Wadey did six years and came on a free and we didn’t pay a lot of money for Stevie Caldwell either.

“It will be good to see them but it’s the same old thing that we will shake hands afterwards and have a chat.

“I think Graham Alexander and Stevie Jordan are coming to the game as well, so it will be good to see a few of the old boys.

“But it will be bit more of a laugh and a joke if we’ve won.”

Duff added: “Birmingham is a harder game on paper. They are a good team, well organised with some very good players.

“We did all right at their place and conceded a last-minute goal but it will be a tough game.

“We have sometimes struggled at home this year but Tuesday nights we seem to be all right, so hopefully we can start well and get the crowd on our side and win the game.”