FERVENT Clarets fan Tony Livesey is looking to the passion in and around the Burnley camp to sweep Stan Ternent's men to a derby victory.

Livesey, who was at the last league meeting between the sides at Ewood Park 17 years ago predicted: "I think it might mean a little bit more to our players and I'm banking on that, especially with Andy Payton. John Mullin's also got local roots and Stan Ternent certainly has.

"I'm hoping that will give us the edge and our players will have a little more fire in their bellies.

He promised a noisy reception at the big match.

Livesey, who used to work for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and is now editor of the Sport newspapers, is delighted to see the derby clash back on the fixture list and believes that the "natural justice of football has prevailed" in bringing Burnley back on a par with their East Lancashire rivals.

He added: "Back in 1983 I just took it in my stride. I was 19 and I just thought these games would happen all the time.

"I think the psychological edge will be with Burnley. Running out onto the pitch equal on footballing terms represents a massive failure on their part.

"The fact that we have dragged them back is fantastic and the fact that we go into the game above them in the table is even more fantastic."

Livesey admits that's a hopeful prediction and stressed that should the unthinkable happen and Rovers win, it won't be the end of the world.

"If we don't win we can't allow that to kill our season," he said.

"If we had been wallowing around in the bottom 10 the game could have been of even greater importance. We've got bigger fish to fry than Blackburn. They are just another little obstacle in our way of getting into the play-offs.

"We've got to hold our heads up and everybody has to stay behind the team. I've got my ticket for Barnsley on Boxing Day and I'll be there even if we lose the next two matches 4-0."