Brian Laws believes next weekend's derby-day showdown can provide the perfect pick-me-up for the Clarets.

Last Saturday's last-ditch defeat at Wigan was a body blow to Burnley's survival hopes after they had produced one of their best away performances of the season.

But Laws and his men are still in there fighting and sees Sunday's Turf Moor showdown with Blackburn Rovers as the ideal way to bounce back and get the survival push back on track.

"It was an awful blow for the players but it's our job to pick them up and get ready and if we can re-create that performance against Blackburn I will be a happy man," said the Burnley boss.

"I think that's the best ingredient of all. We've got one of the biggest local derbies for a long time.

"We haven't played Blackburn at home for a long time. The players will be encouraged by their performances but they will be determined to put it right against Blackburn and what better way of doing it."

Laws has an impressive derby pedigree and last season became the first Sheffield Wednesday manager in 95 years to guide the Owls to a league double over neighbours United.

Michael Duff helped the Clarets look solid

And even though the Clarets' chief admits his team has a fight on its hands to stay up, he believes repeating the performance from the 1-0 defeat at Wigan will give the Clarets a chance of winning the games necessary to beat the drop.

"There are still a lot of points to play for and anything can happen," Laws added.

"I won't let the players get down and I hope the supporters are right behind us because they saw a fantastic game on Saturday and a fantastic effort from the players.

"I am sure the supporters will say as long as they keep doing that they will be happy.

"The players are very focused on what's got to be and what they have to do.

"I am encouraged more by it than any other performance so there's still a great belief here we can turn it round."