However, the Preston midfielder will not be happy until North End have confirmed their Championship status first – aided by a win tomorrow at Deepdale in the big derby.

The boyhood Burnley fan, who left Turf Moor to join West Brom for £1.5m in January 2005, signed for the Lilywhites in the transfer window for £800,000, which could rise to £1.35m.

And his ideal scenario is all three clubs achieving their goals – the Baggies winning automatic promotion, Burnley finishing in the top six, and Preston staying up.

The 23-year-old hopes to play a part against his old club tomorrow, after missing five games with a hamstring problem, and he said: "If Burnley get to the play-off final, I hope it won't be against West Brom, because I have lots of friends at both clubs.

"I still talk to a few of the boys at Burnley, like Brian Jensen, Michael Duff and Robbie Blake.

"But I hope West Brom go up automatically, to save me that, and if Burnley got to Wembley, I suppose I would go to keep my dad Chris company!

"At the same time, I'm a professional, and Preston need the points, and another three would move us closer to safety.

"If you look at the form guide, it shows us top from the last six games, so we're flying, and you wonder what might have happened if we hadn't won those games recently, because there is still only four points in it.

"Maybe four more wins will definitely see us safe."

The Accrington-born ace has taken in the Preston-Burnley clash as a fan, and played twice in the fixture, a 5-3 defeat at Deepdale and a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor in 2003/04, and he recalls his memories: "I started going to Burnley games when I was very small, and they are normally good games with plenty of goals.

"It's a local derby, highly-charged, and they mean a lot to the fans.
"The one that sticks out that I went to see was "King" Arthur's game, when Burnley won at Deepdale and he scored.

"Those were the days!

"I'd love to play in the game, but I don't know if it will happen.
"I played 90 minutes for the reserves on Monday, but we'll have to wait and see.

"I've had a problem with my hamstring, which keeps flaring up. I was totally fit, when I wasn't in the team, and as soon as I got back in, it happened again against Watford.

"But I'm fit again, and hopefully I'll play a part."

Chaplow was linked with a return to Burnley over the course of the season, with both Steve Cotterill and Owen Coyle expressing an interest, but North End boss Alan Irvine was determined to get his man, and Chaplow explained: "I didn't really have the opportunity to come back.
"Burnley were interested in taking me back, I'm pretty sure Steve Cotterill enquired about me, and Owen Coyle, when he came in, but that was as far as it went.

"It took me a while to persuade Tony Mowbray to let me go, up until January, and once he said yes, there were a few clubs interested.

"Burnley were probably more put off by the fee, but Preston came on strong and I ended up here.

"I spoke to my agent and we felt it was a great move, to a big club that has done very well in the last few seasons.

"I felt they didn't deserve to be in the relegation zone, and I could only see them doing better.

"I've no doubt Preston will be a Championship side next season, and if I'm not playing Premier League football, the Championship is where I want to be."

North End, four unbeaten, have lost only once to Burnley at Deepdale in 10 games, back in December 2001 – Arthur Gnohere's coronation, after netting twice in a 3-2 victory.

Irvine will be without former skipper Kevin Nicholls, expected to be out for up to six weeks with a knee injury, while centre back Liam Chilvers has had an operation on a ruptured Achilles, with a potential return date of Christmas.

Chaplow (hamstring) and fellow January signing Michael Hart (hip) – viewed as Graham Alexander's natural successor – came through a reserve game on Monday and are in contention, but Grzegorz Szamotulski is still doubtful with a knee ligament problem.

Irvine is expected to select from (4-4-2): Lonergan; Jones, Mawene, St Ledger, Davidson; Sedgwick, McKenna, Carter, Whaley; Brown, Priskin. Subs from: Mellor, C. Neal (GK), L. Neal, Hill, Trotman, Hill, Hawley, Chaplow, Hart.