LEE Briscoe is set for a less than friendly welcome when he heads for Bramall Lane tomorrow.

However, the former Sheffield Wednesday full-back would expect nothing less when he faces his old Steel City rivals in the latest act of Burnley's play-off drama.

"I'm sure I'll get a great reception again, like the last time I went back, but that's life," said the Pontefract-born defender, whose only concern is keeping the Clarets' top-six hopes alive, not putting one over the old enemy after their win at Hillsborough a month ago.

"I think most of my pals have moved on from Sheffield Wednesday now. I think Andy Booth was the last lad left there and he's moved on as well so I'm not too bothered about what happens in Sheffield derbies anymore. My concern is this side of the Pennines now."

Briscoe's last return to Sheffield ended in disappointment with a 2-0 defeat and a fresh hamstring injury against Wednesday in the middle of last month.

However, that set-back is now behind him and after returning to the Clarets starting line-up for Tuesday night's win over Tranmere, Briscoe is hoping to end a personally frustrating season on the ultimate high note of a play-off campaign.

He said: "I'm disappointed. It was going so well and I've missed a massive chunk of the season. Even now I'm getting through the games but without a good pre-season I don't think I'll get myself fully fit until the start of next year.

"But the squad is a little bit of thin at the moment and everyone is in there and doing a job.

"And all that would be forgotten if we were in the play-offs in ten days' time."

Whether Burnley can make it depends on whether or not they can extend a run of four wins in six games and also if Preston, Birmingham, West Brom and Wimbledon slip up.

All face tricky games tomorrow and Briscoe believes that despite a tough test of their own against the mid-table Blades, who have won 13 times on their own patch, Burnley can at least take their fight to the final weekend.

"They are playing teams who are scrapping for something so I'm sure one of the results might go our way," he said.

"We've just got to keep winning and what will be will be. We can't change what happens anywhere else but if we win it keeps the pressure on.

"I think we can go anywhere and win at the moment. I have had some experience of Neil Warnock before and there's no way he'll send out a team without being ready to win the game so it will be tough. But we're confident we can win the game.

For Briscoe, a play-off assault is an unexpected bonus following his move from Wednesday last summer.

But the experience and discovering the depth of talent at Turf Moor has turned out to be a welcome surprise.

He added: "I spoke to the manager at length and he said with the squad I've got I think we'll be okay. But really the play-offs weren't mentioned, so it is a massive bonus for everyone.

"I think we are all perhaps a little surprised but with the way we started the season we soon realised we could handle this division and it's proved so.

"The division doesn't get much television publicity so I hadn't seen a lot of the lads before but I'm really pleasantly surprised by the players that are here and as a club it's great. We've done really well."