Burnley defender David Unsworth is aiming to halt Sheffield United's barnstorming end to the season, and put the Clarets on track for a strong finish of their own.

Unsworth, set to face his former club for the third time since leaving to join Wigan in January last year, is desperate to bounce back from Saturday's disappointment at Norwich City, where the Clarets failed to recover from Dion Dublin's 61-second goal.

Although the play-off dream is becoming increasingly distant, manager Owen Coyle has vowed to fight on in the remaining four games.

And that is a sentiment echoed by Unsworth ahead of this weekend's clash with the Blades.

"There's a slim hope, but there is still hope," said the 34-year-old.

"Even so, the management wouldn't let us (relax) and I don't think us, as a group of players, would want that or do that anyway.

"We've got some good pros in the squad and I, for one, and all the other lads want to finish the season very strongly.

"It was a big game for us at Norwich and unfortunately we didn't get the result we wanted.

"If we had got the win there it would have set the end of the season up very nicely.

"But if we win our remaining games, who knows what might happen.

"We've still got a lot to fight and play for and we will give it our best shot until the end of the season.

"You only have to look at Stoke, who lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace (on Monday night), where anybody can put a run together.

"Sheffield United come here having won five of their last six games.

"At one point they were in the relegation fight but Kevin (Blackwell) has done a good job since he came in there and they are out of that now and looking for a strong finish themselves."

But Unsworth is not averse to causing an upset among the Bramall Lane club, who he served for almost 18-months.

In a basement battle with Wigan, the ex-Everton stopper scored the penalty which relegated the Blades to the Championship on the final day of last season.

"Sheffield United's a big, big club and have done great in the last few games and their strikers are scoring goals," he said.

"They should be right up there at the top with the size of the squad and size of the club, and with all the money of the parachute payments. I'm sure it's a disappointing season for them.

"But we know that the last few weeks have been disappointing for us.

"We know that we are better than that, so it's up to us as a group of players, and as a unit and a team, to put it right, starting on Saturday."