Ryan Lowe is expecting an entertaining derby match under the Deepdale lights on Tuesday evening when Burnley are the visitors.
North End haven’t faced their Lancashire rivals in league action since 2016, and Vincent Kompany brings his side to Deepdale after making a positive start to life in the Turf Moor hotseat.
He’s implemented a different way of playing to his predecessor, focusing on more possession-based football, and so far they’ve accumulated 13 points from their eight league matches.
For PNE, they’re looking for their first victory at home this Championship term, while also hoping to match the highs of last season’s derby win at home to Blackpool.
On Burnley, Ryan told iFollow PNE: “They’re well coached. They’re playing some good football, they’re a threat in both boxes, and they’ve got some good players, but so have we.
“So what we need to do is make sure we follow the gameplan, stick to the gameplan, look to nullify their strengths and their weaknesses, and that’s certainly going to be the plan.
“Other derby games will come into effect, obviously the Blackpool one where we won, the Blackburn one where we weren’t so good, but this is a totally different one.
“It’s definitely bragging rights for two sets of fans and we’ll be doing our utmost to be giving our fans the bragging rights.”
There’s a big crowd expected at Deepdale, with the visitors selling out the away end, while the home end is set to be the busiest so far this season.
Ryan has already seen first hand the effect a packed-out stadium can have – last season’s Blackpool game just one example – and he’s hoping the fans can make their mark once again.
“They can have a big impact,” added Ryan. “What I will say is however the game’s going they need to be loud and proud, because they certainly help us.
“You look at the games where they have, especially away games coming in their numbers screaming and shouting, but regardless of how the scoreline goes we’re going to need them to be our 12th man definitely.
“We’re at home, it’s a derby under the lights, live on Sky Sports, it’s a great occasion for us so I’m sure they won’t let us down.
“We’ve obviously got to do our bit on the pitch and not let them down, and get their bums off the seats.
“I’m looking forward to an entertaining game on the pitch, but also an entertaining game with two sets of supporters and hopefully ours will come out on top.”
The manager is aware there may be times during the night where the Clarets will be seeing much of the ball, having averaged around 65% possession during Championship matches so far this term.
PNE themselves like to play out from the back, though, and keep the ball on the floor, and that will be no different come Tuesday night.
“We’re good with the football as well,” he said. “It’s two teams who are very well possession-based teams, but it’s obviously both boxes which win you games of football as we well know.
“We’ve been very good in the defending box and not so good in the attacking box, but obviously we want that to change in terms of creating more chances and scoring more goals certainly.
“Burnley have conceded goals but also scored goals. I think it’s geared up for a good entertaining game; it’s two good footballing teams locking horns to try and get three points.”
Watch Ryan's full interview on iFollow PNE.