THERE'S something about derby games that makes them extra special.

The atmosphere, the bragging rights at stake, and heaven knows we could do with being able to brag about doing the double over Preston.

Both sides will have a sense of anxiety going into the game. Preston because they are up there and pushing for the play-offs, Burnley because this run has got to stop, and soon.

But perhaps, because of that run, there will be a little bit more pressure weighed on North End because when you're facing a team that's on a run like the Clarets, you don't want to be the victims of it coming to an end.

Their current form is something the Burnley players have got to put out of their mind and just focus on the 90 minutes in front of them.

Perhaps, if they are going to think about anything else, it should be the elation they felt after their 3-2 win over Preston back in October at Turf Moor and what it would be like to re-create those emotions all over again - although that Friday night win seems like a thousand years away right now.

It's going to be a hard game tomorrow. No-one is under any illusion that it will be anything else.

Preston have been up there in the top places all season.

But form goes out of the window at this time of the year anyway - you only have to look at Barnsley the other night, winning 4-2 against Plymouth and climing out of the bottom three.

There is no such thing as form, either, when it comes to derbies, and it would do so much for the lads if they can get a win, against the odds, at Deepdale.

For one thing, three points would go a long way to stopping them looking over their shoulder at the teams around them.

After a last-minute defeat at Southend, they're at a point where it's not just their own results they have to worry about but those of the others grappling for survival.

It will be a massive blow if John McGreal and Stephen Foster a missing tomorrow because they are players that we can't really replace at the moment.

Two more injuries to defenders on Tuesday night really was a kick in the nether regions.

It's about time Burnley got the breaks in their favour, and I hope it starts tomorrow.