Harper up for Tyne-Wear derby April 17 2008
Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper will finally fulfil a dream when he lines up against arch-rivals Sunderland at St James' Park on Sunday.
The 33-year-old has been on the Tyneside club's books for 15 years and has played against the Black Cats twice.
However, he has never faced them at St James' - or, incidentally, finished on the winning side - and he hopes to right both wrongs this weekend.
Harper said: "It will be my first derby with Sunderland at St James' Park.
"I have played twice at the Stadium of Light and we have drawn both of those games.
"It will certainly be different to those two games. I have played in front of 48,000 of their fans, and it will be different on Sunday when there are 52,000 Geordies screaming us on.
"It was great to be part of it at the Stadium of Light, and it will be the same on Sunday."
Harper was born and bred in Easington - territory shared by the two clubs, though with Sunderland enjoying slightly the bigger share - and his parents still live in the village.
He has endured some good-natured banter from some of the locals since being snapped up from local club Seaham Red Star by Kevin Keegan in 1993, and has no doubt given back plenty in return.
Harper said: "It is probably 60-40 in their favour, and while there are quite a few Geordies there, they are outnumbered. But they are a vocal lot and the rivalry is good."
After making his derby debut in a 2-2 draw on Wearside in February 2000, Harper deputised for the injured Shay Given earlier this season and saw James Milner snatch a point with a fortuitous equaliser.
However, with Newcastle having embarked on a solid run of form under Keegan - they are unbeaten in five games and have collected 11 of the last 15 points on offer - the keeper is hoping for a first taste of victory over Roy Keane's men.
Harper and Steven Taylor are likely to be the only locals in Keegan's starting line-up, while former Magpies Michael Chopra and Sunderland fan Grant Leadbitter will hope for a role in Keane's plans, and all four know exactly what is at stake.
But Harper admits even those players whose roots lie further afield have been left in little doubt as to the importance of this weekend's fixture.
He said: "I don't think you can fail to know what it means when you live in a city like Newcastle.
"It lives and breathes football, and you have seen in the last month what a difference it has made around the city.
"The doom and gloom that was hanging over the city has gone and the place is bouncing again now.
"It's a big high-pressure game but we are going into it with a lot of confidence."