Former Barnet manager John Still expects a feisty affair when the Bees visit his Luton Town side on Saturday.
The 65-year-old took charge of the Bees between 1997 and 2000 before stepping back into the breach when player-manager Tony Cottee ended his short spell with the club.
Still, who has won promotion from the Conference with Dagenham & Redbridge and Luton since, believes Saturday’s meeting between the two will have an extra edge to it.
He told Hatters Player: “It’s really weird how you look at games. We had Dagenham & Redbridge and that isn’t a local derby but it had a derby feel about it – maybe because of me.
“This coming up is a local derby, ish. They always give games a little bit more. My friendship with Martin Allen, the fact I’ve managed the club as well – they are all ingredients to make it a feisty affair.”
Luton were Conference champions 12 months before Barnet clinched a record breaking third Conference title and Still believes Allen’s side can build on what has already been a solid start.
“They’ve come in and bedded in well,” he said. “They are hard working but will they be happy to keep away from the bottom half? No, I don’t think they will.
“I think their ambition will be more than that. As we know, if you win the Conference you are a good side and we finished one off the play-offs last year.
“They’ve brought in some decent players and probably invested more than Barnet ever have done before because I think they want to tinker with that Conference – or National League as it’s called now.
“I think their chairman realises that and I think they’ve invested much more heavily than they have previously.
“They’ve brought in some good players and they’ll be a test for everybody. Was I surprised they beat Blackpool? Not in the slightest. I thought they’d beat them – I really did.”
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