When Preston rubber-stamped the controversial sale of skipper Graham Alexander to bitter local rivals Burnley the balloon went up. It was a premature exit and Lilywhites fans feared it could be the tip of the iceberg.

There is no love lost between the two Championship rivals and Alexander only left because he was offered a two-year deal at Turf Moor which Preston would not match. And, as a Johnny-Come-Lately at Burnley, he still has a point to prove.

Johnny-Come-Lately: Alexander

'I spent many happy years there and made so many friends at Preston,' said  Alexander, who made 400 appearances for The Lilywhites and at 36, is still a key member of the Scotland 2010 World Cup squad.

He'll obviously be looking to give his old club a warm welcome when they turn up at his new home this weekend - and expects to get a ribbing when Preston fans are given free condoms in a bid to sow the seeds of love between the two sets of supporters..

It's all a bit late for Alexander, father of twins, but previewing the clash with more  innuendoes than Sid James in a Carry On film, he said: 'We will be up for it.

'Little things get the blood pumping and your hairs standing up at local derbies like this - it should be a great game.'

The prophylactics were not part of the deal that took Alexander to Burnley, and there is a serious side to the Turf Moor love-glove giveaway, as communications manager Darren Bentley pointed out.

He said: 'Burnley FC-branded condoms  will help promote good health and safe sex.

'As well as seeing the fun side, supporters will recognise the message  behind using them.'

Local police are not expecting the condoms to promote an outbreak of summer loving 1967-style, however, and have drafted in extra numbers to cope with the bigger crowd to ensure the great condom experiment doesn't explode in their faces.