Genetically modified butterflies spread Claret and Blue fever

Forget swine flu, the only pandemic spreading around Burnley this week has been playoff fever.

It would have taken more than a few face masks to stop the infectious swell of positivity that has been circulating the town over the last seven days.

People have been queuing down the stretch of Harry Potts Way outside the ticket office to ensure a sell out of the home seats inside Turf Moor; with each and every soul hoping victory means that Owen Coyle can begin to emulate some of the success of the Claret’s most famous manager.

For me, I remain as supremely confident as ever that we can do it.

You could compare it to one of those goons off the Apprentice who believes that they are the spawn of Donald Trump when they have as much business acumen as a tramp trying selling his own faeces. Everyone’s got to make a living I suppose.

As the time before kick off gets shorter my nerves expand. As I type, the butterflies inside my stomach are fluttering their gigantic genetically modified wings faster than the way Rick Hatton hit the canvas last night.

The Hitman’s career resembles much of what the Clarets have achieved this season; like Ricky we’ve been the likeable northern underdog who has won many plaudits for our fearless displays, style and ability to box well above our weight.

Let’s just hope that’s where the comparisons end after Hatton’s latest display against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Although I doubt mid-table Bristol City will pack as much venom as the Philippino, with their threat perhaps more comparable to an Audley Harrison comeback fight.

Instead it’s our Lancashire rivals Preston who will be packing a punch and will be confident after two impressive victories over Cardiff and Birmingham. Again they are facing nothing to play for mid-table opposition and I doubt yuppies QPR will be on their guard.

But what they do won’t matter if Burnley win; we must do what we’re good at, get the ball down on the floor, be patient and take our chances.

The likes of Graham Alexander, Robbie Blake, Steven Caldwell, Clarke Carlisle and Brian Jenson are all seasoned campaigners who will help calm the nerves.

For many of those mentioned this will be their last shot at the Premier League and having already missed out on a Wembley final already this season they won’t be willing to let that happen again.

The crowd must also play their part, the sell out sea of Claret and Blue must sing their hearts out and not get too jittery if things get tense.

If we all stay positive we’ll reach the playoffs and then maybe, who knows, the promised land.