ONE of the biggest crowds for years will pack into Turf Moor tomorrow as local rivals collide in a Foster’s Worsley Cup semi-final to make the mouth water.

Excitement has reached fever pitch ever since the semi-final draw pitted Burnley and Lowerhouse against each other and the cross town teams are now all set to put on a show in the most famous league knockout competition there is.

Bookies have been taking bets on the outcome and Lowerhouse fans have taken to song ahead of the 23rd Worsley Cup meeting between the old rivals.

But after all the pre-match hype, it is now down to the players with Lowerhouse making the trip as slight favourites.

However Burnley’s outstanding display in the quarter final win over Ramsbottom proved they are capable of stepping up on the big day.

Skipper Bharat Tripathi and club chairman Michael Brown were in fine form with the bat on that day, while the bowlers also turned on the style to send Jon Fielding’s men out.

And much will depend on the pair again with former Middlesex, Hampshire and Surrey opener Brown likely to be pivotal.

The 33-year-old, who retired from the professional game two years ago after a series of injuries, now limits his appearances and doesn’t play today when Burnley host East Lancashire in a league clash.

But he is named in a squad of 12 for tomorrow and he is also hoping Burnley’s men can rise to the occasion once again in the big one.

“It should be a good game,” said Brown. “Let’s hope the lads can do the club proud.”

Lowerhouse are also starting to find their top form after a sluggish start to the defence of their league title and cup crown.

They name an unchanged side for the trip with their fans travelling by two canal barges to the match as they aim to continue their recent domination of local cricket.

The other semi-final is also a tie that promises much as Haslingden welcome Nelson to Bentgate in a repeat of the 2004 last-four clash, which was won by the home team.

The teams also meet in the league this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s cup cracker and with Haslingden riding high in second place in the league, Graham Knowles’ men are certainly favourites on both days, especially with Nelson unpredictable.

Last Sunday they were skittled by Enfield for just 44 but Neil Thompson’s men can beat anyone on their day and professional Ryan Canning is beginning to look like the real deal.

The 29-year-old South African, who is a run machine for Boland back home, is winning admirers in his first season in the Lancashire League and his pro battle with Haslingden’s explosive former West Indian Test man Brenton Parchment could go a long way to deciding who will win through to August’s showpiece final.

Phil Hayes is replaced by Mo Imtiaz for Haslingden, while Nelson are without the dangerous David Crotty, who has had a hernia operation.

All four clubs will be hoping for good weather as big crowds will boost the coffers and Haslingden skipper Knowles said: “It’s a great draw for us, not only in terms of winning the game but also in terms of finance for the club.

“You always get a good turn-out in the semi-finals, fans of other clubs come watching and people just enjoy to come out and support the local side and these games generate a lot of money for the clubs.”

Tomorrow also sees the semi-finals of the Lancashire Telegraph Junior Cup – and Seedhill stages a mirror image of the Worsley Cup semi with Nelson seconds facing Haslingden seconds.

Burnley seconds are also in the last four and they travel to meet Rishton seconds at Blackburn Road.