And the in-form left back would like nothing more than to cap it with a play-off battle and promotion.

The 28-year-old is arguably playing his best football since leaving Chelsea in 2001.

And that has coincided with the Clarets maintaining a push for the top six.

Ahead of tomorrow's key clash with Preston, Maidstone-born Harley said: "I was close-ish with Sheffield United, but this is probably as enjoyable a season as I've had trying to get into the play-offs, and the rest of it is going to be interesting.

"The two seasons I've had prior to this have sort of fizzled out and we've had to almost fight off relegation towards the end.

"Whilst your battling to get to the Premiership, that's when everyone gets a real enjoyment out of the game.

"In the previous two seasons I've been here, we've been trying to nick a result to confirm us staying up at this stage of the season, so it's nice to be batting at the other end of the table.

"Obviously it's enjoyable, and with seven games to go, if we can get a good little run together it will be nice and entertaining for us for the rest of the season.

"The squad this season is the best since I've been here, with the spirit and everything.

"I think we've shown in games where we've gone behind and come back to win or nick a result."

Harley has missed only one game since the arrival of Owen Coyle, to be at the birth of his son, and has filled a variety of roles under the new boss.

Having won the Player of the Year award in his first season, Harley feels he is back to his best, and happy to be in the side, wherever he is asked to play: "I think any player will tell you 'I just want to be in the team'.

"I was a bit new to the centre midfield role but I really enjoyed it, so I wouldn't mind having a little stint there again if it came up.

"If I can play in the team then I'm happy, wherever I'm put.

"I'd like to say myself I'm playing as well as I have done for as long as I can remember.

"I'm enjoying playing, and while that's the case I'm as happy as can be.

"It's a bit strange because it does look like the gaffer's come in and I've started doing well, but I felt confident just before the old gaffer left. I felt that I was just coming into my own then."

The squad is eager to put the disappointment of the defeat against Wolves firmly behind them in the derby tomorrow, and try to peg back the three-point gap separating them from the top six: "Take Saturday against Wolves out, and our form has been quite good of late.

"If we could have beaten Wolves, that could have killed them off a little bit, and obviously we wanted to keep piling the pressure on the play-offs. We've got seven games to go and got it all to do, but it's still in our hands.

"If we get a good run together it's going to be possible, so it's all on us still.

"Fortunately there are seven games so it is all in our hands, so if we can get a good run together.

"We've managed to change our home form around – take Saturday out of the equation and we've been doing really well.

"We've had a tough run of late and come out reasonably well from that, so with the games we've got left we're confident with every game.

"The nerves are fine. All the lads are fine. We know it wasn't good enough on Saturday, and we've got to put that right.

"And there's no better game to do that than a local derby and just get our run going again."

And he is looking forward to a big occasion at Deepdale: "It's a big one and they've obviously turned their form around of late. It's going to be massive for us, we need to get three points and bragging rights – there's a lot on it."

Harley is also playing for his future, with his three-year contract due to expire in the summer.

And he admits that he would like to extend his stay at Turf Moor: "I haven't had an offer or anything, so I'm not sure what's going to happen.

"I'd like to stay, but I just don't know what's going to happen.

"I've got family at home and they're the most important things in my life, so I've got to look after them.

"It would be nice to have a contract signed and sealed now, but that's not been the case so far."