ASHLEY Barnes is determined to get one over on his old mentor Gus Poyet on Saturday, despite admitting he loved every minute of working under the Uruguayan at Brighton.

The duo teamed up for over three years on the south coast and came close to promotion to the Premier League two seasons ago, losing in the play-off semi-finals to Crystal Palace.

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Barnes, who was the Seagulls top scorer in their first season back in the Championship in 2010/11, moved to the Clarets just over a year ago, six months after Poyet had left the Amex Stadium in acrimonious circumstances.

Poyet was initially suspended following that play-off defeat to rivals Palace, and only found out about his eventual dismissal while covering Spain vs. Nigeria in the Confederations Cup on the BBC.

But Barnes only has happy memories of his time working under Poyet, who took over at Sunderland in October, 2013.

“It was fantastic, I loved every minute there,” the 25-year-old said of his time at the Seagulls.

“I came away from there with a new challenge and I’m doing alright here.

“You don’t want them to win, you want to get one over on them. We’ll be friends before the game, after the game, but as soon as that whistle goes it’s concentrating on your job and that’s all you can do. As soon as you cross that white line you’re enemies.”

Barnes scored 53 goals in 170 games for Brighton having initially joined them on loan in March 2010.

Since making the move to Turf Moor he has scored seven league goals for the Clarets, including four in his last 12 starts in the Premier League.

At Brighton Poyet won plaudits for the quality of football his side played.

He is yet to reach the same heights with the Black Cats, having won just 21 of his 66 games in charge, but Barnes is well aware of the challenge that will present itself at the Stadium of Light.

"They’ve got some great players there and I’m quite familiar with the way Gus plays.

“He’s all about passing, keeping possession and we’re going to need to be at our game and defend for 90 minutes and score at the other end. We’ll go there and try and do that.”

Sunderland and Burnley are level on points after 22 games, with Poyet’s side ahead by one goal in the goal difference column, making Saturday another crucial fixture in the Premier League run-in.

Having beaten QPR and lost to Crystal Palace, the Clarets face fellow relegation battlers West Brom the week after the trip to the north east.

“Every game is massive in this league,” said Barnes. “We’ll go there looking for the three points and nothing else.”

For Barnes it has been a long journey to the top, having started out banging the goals in for Paulton Rovers in the Southern League Division One South and West.

He now has a battle on his hands for his Clarets starting place, with Sam Vokes back from injury, but the former Brighton man is loving his chance in the top flight.

“It’s fantastic, you can’t ask for much more,” he said. “All I can do is fight for my shirt and I’m lucky enough to have kept it for now.”