Morning has broken on the big day, bright and clear, for now. As the day draws on, and the clouds gather over east Lancashire the anticipation of a famous derby win for the supporters of both teams grows by the hour.
For all the talk in the press of crowd control and supporters infiltration, I have a feeling that once the game starts all thoughts and energies will be focussed on the game, and personally think that with the fact that the tie must be decided tonight, and the lure of an emanantley winnable home quarter final waiting, the game will be much more attractive and open then the first.
The smart money is on a Rovers victory, home side, premiership players, recent history and so on all favouring the aristocrats. But, as Rovers fans know very well, (Ipswich, Charlton, Coventry, Stockport, Trelleborg, Bournemouth and so on), Ewood Park has a strange benevolent streak in it when it comes to knock out competitions.
Pre match focus amongst the supporters has centred around ticket sales and who has the best fans, with both sides claiming their lot sell out miles quicker and sang louder than the others in the first tie. All good humoured banter, n`est pas but with a virtual sell out tonight and the prospect of no further duals for some many a year the pressure is on Rovers home supporters to do their bit and shut the neighbours up for good.
And so, as the lights come on at Ewood tonight, and the coaches rumble down the M65, the clouds broken only by the blades of the police helicopter,another chapter begins in the story of footballs oldest derby.
Behave tonight and see you no, nay never again Burnley!