IT IS a strange fact but fans of Blackburn's FA Cup rivals Barnsley are just as eager to see Craig Hignett in action as the followers of his current club.

The 31-year-old midfielder has been on the bench for Rovers in recent games, but to face his former club would be a big fillip for the genial Hignett.

He left Oakwell after the Tykes failure to regain Premiership status through the play-offs two terms ago, despite his best efforts scoring in their Wembley defeat by Ipswich Town.

His hard graft for the Reds earned him status as a fans favourite and it remains to this day despite his move over the Pennines.

"If you were to say is this a big game for me I would have to say I should say so," said Hignett.

"Most of the fan mail that I get is mainly from Barnsley still -- I enjoyed it there and they are a great club."

However, that first trip to the twin towers for the Tykes was to prove a watershed for Hignett and spurred his move to Rovers.

"It was a massive day for the club and myself," said Hignett.

"In the end it was a terrible day in many ways because the club had tied the purse strings up to get back into the Premiership.

"It could have gone our way but in the end we could have no complaints about the outcome.

"But I knew that if we didn't win I was pretty much on my way, so it was a sad day."

Now Hignett is working hard to win back his first team place at Rovers and would love a crack at his former colleagues.

And he has already sounded a warning in the Rovers camp that it will not be an easy ride.

"We don't fear them but we know that we have got to give them plenty of respect," said Hignett.

"Steve Parkin has gone there as manager and done a great job and, having had them watched a couple of times, we know that we are going to have to work very hard to get something at Oakwell.

"Most of the lads they have there at the moment are local products, they are good players and have a lot of pride so it is going to be difficult for us.

"But we went there last season and snatched a 2-1 win -- I would think that we would settle for the same tomorrow."

Parkin has to make one enforced change as recent signing Gary Jones, the midfielder who followed Parkin from Spotland to Oakwell, is both suspended and cup-tied and youngster Alex Neill will take his place.

However, he could also switch impressive youth team product David Mulligan for Lee Crookes at right back, while Gary McSwegan, on loan from Scottish Premier outfit Hearts, should be on the bench.