SAINTS manager George Burley claims Derby will be the favourites in their Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final after his side booked a nerve-jangling meeting with his old club.

Kenwyne Jones and Leon Best both scored twice to secure Saints' place in the top six after the hosts survived an early scare to emphatically beat relegated Southend 4-1 at St Mary's this afternoon.

Burley is no stranger to the play-offs after taking Ipswich into the end-of-season lottery four times and Derby once, and having led the Tractor Boys to victory at the old Wembley in 2000, he is itching to earn a trip to the new stadium.

"Derby finished above us in third so they have to be favourites," said Burley.

"But we've got a good blend of youth and experience and we've won our last three games so we're in a good run of form and we want to carry that on.

"You need a few breaks, a few decisions to go for you and it's in the lap of the gods really.

"I've got a mixed record.

"It's nice to get to Wembley and we were the last team to win at the old one, so it would be nice to be the first at the new one.

"Maybe that's an omen".

It will be Burley's second play-off semi final clash with Billy Davies in three seasons.

Back in 2004/05 Burley's Rams were beaten 2-0 on aggregate by Davies' Preston.

Derby, minus the injured Grzegorz Rasiak and Inigo Idiakez, lost the first leg 2-0 at Deepdale and were held 0-0 at Pride Park in the second.

Davies, speaking after Derby's 2-0 home win over relegated Leeds yesterday, said: "People can talk up these games as much as they like, but it does not matter to me who we play.

"Nothing will change this week, there will be no changes to our routine in terms of preparation and there will be no trips to fancy hotels.

"We will go down to Southampton looking to take the game to them and to score goals".

And the former Preston boss, who left North End in acrimonious circumstances during the close season, said: "I am disappointed Preston have not made the play-offs.

"Despite what some people may think, they are a club I hold in great affection and it would have been fantastic if they had made the play-offs as well".

Saints have yet to beat Derby this season - a last-minute Paul Peschisolido leveller gave the Rams a point in the first game of the season at Pride Park and a late Steven Howard effort saw Saints defeated at St Mary's in late January.

For the best Saints v Southend coverage, don't miss tomorrow's Daily Echo.