RICHARD Chaplow is turning tonight's Turf Moor return into a family affair.

But the former Burnley midfielder is keeping old friends at arms length as he concentrates on easing Southampton's relegation fears.

The loan man, who makes his first appearance in front of Clarets fans since his £1.5m move to WBA 14 months ago, has still to open his goalscoring account for the Saints, whose first visit to Turf Moor since 1978 sees them sitting nervously just six points clear of the drop zone.

Chaplow, 21, said: "I played for Burnley from the age of seven and made my first team debut for them so it's an understatement to say I'm looking forward to going back.

"I've got quite a following there tonight with uncles and aunts and my mum, dad and brother, who are all Burnley fans, but hopefully they'll be supporting me.

"The Burnley team has changed quite a bit since I was there, but I still know five or six of them and Brian Jensen and I have had some banter this week.

"I can't wait to give him some more stick and hopefully I'll put one past him because we need something out of the match.

"We're in a scrap and the only way to get out of it is to put our foot in where it hurts and pick up some points to give us some breathing space."

However, Burnley first team coach Steve Davis expects Chaplow to suffer a bout of butterflies when he returns to his former stamping ground.

And after becoming the highest-placed Championship team - other than Sheffield United - to earn victory last weekend, Davis hopes back-to-back victories for the first time in 2006 will improve the Clarets' chances of bettering last season's 13th place finish.

He said: "I am sure Richard will be nervous. I was when I was coming back because you're at the club you loved playing for, and I'm sure he'll be exactly the same.

"But he'll be wanting to win and we are under no illusions it's going to be an easy game after the run we've been on.

"But to come out of the (Norwich) game with three points gives not only the players, but the staff and supporters a big boost.

"Confidence is a massive thing, and that win has given us a real shot in the arm.

"You've got to try and improve every season and if we get the three points it will take us higher up the table and that's everyone's aim; to better last season.

"We'll give ourselves a chance of doing that if we get a result tonight."