BLACKBURN fans may love to hate Burnley but David Dunn admits that a major rivalry has grown between Rovers and Bolton over the last couple of years writes Richard Mulligan

There are less than 15 miles between Ewood Park and the Reebok Stadium, and the fortunes of the two sides have been similarly close since they both competed for the second automatic promotion in the First Division last season.

In the end Blackburn just about triumphed, and were helped in no short way by a 4-1 victory at the Reebok in February.

This time around it is about Premiership survival with the two clubs struggling around the drop zone.

Dunn, who comes from Great Harwood, said: "Ourselves and Bolton have been close over the last two seasons and we just about got the edge over them in the First Division last year.

"We would love to get one over them again, our away win over them last year was fabulous for us.

"Games with Burnley are the biggest thing for the fans, I suppose these things are about long-standing traditions. But Bolton is pretty local and is probably as near as Burnley is. There is certainly a rivalry between us."

Although the proximity of the clubs gives the game an extra edge, Dunn believes the approach for this game will jbe just the same as it was at Cardiff last weekend - and will have to be in Rovers' remaining Premiership matches.

"The game tomorrow is like another cup final for us, but we have about 12 or 13 more of them before the end of the season.

"We want to win it and feel we have to win it, we're not even thinking about defeat because to go seven points behind Bolton is unthinkable."

Many see Saturday's clash as 'do or die' for both sides, but with things so tight around the bottom half of the Premiership, it could still be that both or neither of the Lancashire sides are relegated come May.

"There are a number of clubs that could get dragged into trouble with one or two bad results," said the 22-year-old. "It also only takes a couple of wins to lift you right up the table.

"I think that Leicester look to be pretty much gone, but Derby have looked better since John Gregory took over.

"You really never know what will happen, so we just have to go into every match looking to take three points."