The Blackburn boss was at Aintree on Thursday to celebrate with Ferguson as What A Friend romped home but the pair will go head to head at Ewood Park tomorrow.

Allardyce said: "I'm as fiercely competitive as he is and we want to write the headlines on Monday morning.

"Sir Alex is one of the people in football I'm close to along with Phil Brown, David Moyes and Steve Bruce. When we meet up we like to have a drink together and chew the fat and discuss football matters.

"I consider him to be the greatest manager of a team the world has seen over the last two decades, so you would always accept advice from someone like that.

"It's a nice thing to know you have got in your locker the ability, if for whatever reason you're struggling with something, to pick the phone up and discuss it with someone who has the guile, the know-how and the experience he's got."

Allardyce admitted he felt a twinge of relief at Old Trafford on Wednesday night when he watched Wayne Rooney - top scorer in the Premier League with 26 goals so far - limp off after 55 minutes.

He added: "Of course I did, he's scored so many goals for them this year he would be a massive danger to us if he was fit and able to play.

"Wayne has scored the vast majority of their goals and the second leading goalscorer is called O.G.

"They have had 13 own goals in their favour this year, the second-highest after Rooney, that shows the pressure they put on other teams but it also shows there's a big gap and a big loss with Wayne not playing and hopefully that can only be a help for us to get a result."

Blackburn have lost only three out of 27 games on their home turf since Allardyce became manager in December 2008 and he has a full squad to choose from with Ryan Nelsen, Keith Andrews and Vince Grella all available after injury.

Allardyce's biggest selection dilemma is whether to recall his skipper Nelsen to the starting line-up or continue with 18-year-old centre-back Phil Jones, who has made a dramatic impact in the last four games.

In those four games Blackburn have been unbeaten, conceding just two goals, winning two matches and holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.