ROBBIE Blake believes beating derby enemies Blackburn Rovers on Sunday would eclipse Burnley’s stunning Wembley play-off success.

The Clarets have not overcome their East Lancashire rivals in a competitive game since 1979.

But Owen Coyle’s men can end a 30-year wait with victory at Ewood Park and, in the process, continue their fantastic start to the Premier League.

With 12 points in the bag already, Burnley have made a strong statement of intent to the rest of the top flight, although they await their first win on the road.

That may all change this weekend, and Blake considers a derby-day triumph to be ‘better’ than May’s play-off triumph over Sheffield United at Wembley.

“There’d be no better start than at Ewood Park to get your first three points away,” said the Clarets star.

“I’m sure the fans will banish the memories of the four games we’ve had so far away from home with that one.

“It’d be better than winning the play-off final wouldn’t it?!”

Brian Jensen and Michael Duff are the only Burnley players to survive the club’s last meeting against Rovers in the FA Cup in early 2005.

But Blake, in his second spell at Turf Moor, is pumped up for the red-hot derby atmosphere.

“When you’ve got the Merseyside, Manchester, London and north east derbies, I think it’s seen as not too hostile,” said the 33-year-old.

“But you’ll find at Ewood Park it will be a great atmosphere and a great game to be involved in. This is one of those ones that goes under the radar.

“There’s only Beasty and Duffo in the squad who have played in one of these games, and they’d never seen an atmosphere like it.

“It’s going to be a high-pressure game, but you want to be involved in them as a footballer and we can’t wait to play them.

“It will be nice to experience it from my own side of it.”

Blake believes the Clarets have an extra incentive to grasp East Lancashire bragging rights following their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Blackburn in April 2001.

That was the last league meeting between the two clubs and it was recently celebrated by Rovers with the release of a specially-made ‘5-0’ t-shirt.

“It would be nice for the fans to have the bragging rights, so hopefully we can do that for them,” said Blake.

“I don’t think we’ll need a team-talk for the game. I’m pretty sure if you don’t get up for that game, then you’re never going to get up for any game.

“I’m pretty sure they won’t be brandishing those 5-0 t-shirts anyway!”