Alan Irvine wants a repeat of the atmosphere which carried his side to victory in the Lancashire derby last weekend, when Sheffield United visit Deepdale.

"The supporters were terrific against Burnley, they helped us a lot," said Irvine as he prepared for a match between two of the form sides in the league.

"I know the fans need the players to give them a boost – I fully understand that. But the players need the fans as well.

"And if they can all work together we have a real chance of Deepdale becoming a difficult place to visit for opposition teams once again."

The Blades could bring more than 2,000 supporters across the Pennines for what could be a make-or-break game for their play-off hopes.

Kevin Blackwell's side are six points off the top six with seven to play, so defeat on Saturday could all but end their interest in the end-of-season knockout.

>> New stand making good progress

North End need the points for entirely different reasons – three more would almost certainly guarantee their survival.

Irvine is hoping home advantage and a recent run of four wins and a draw will give his side the edge. But Blackwell brings his Blades team to the Red Rose county with an identical record over the last five matches.

"They are on a really good run of form at the moment, but then so are we," said Irvine.

"They have a lot of good players, a lot of players with Premier League and international experience.

"Kevin has done very well and has obviously managed to turn things round. But I'm not surprised because he has done well at other clubs too.

"They have a few danger men. Billy Sharp is obviously a threat, Rob Hulse is also playing well. And James Beattie? Well, you could say I know a bit about what he can do."

Beattie spent two-and-a-half years at Everton with Irvine as his coach and was sold for £4m last summer. But, despite his price-tag and the 15 goals he has netted this season, he is only expected to make the bench on Saturday.

Read Alan Irvine's thoughts on Andrew Lonergan and the strength of his squad in Friday's Lancashire Evening Post.