Neill joined the Hammers last January after six years at Blackburn and received an angry reception on his first trip back last season.

The tough Australian defender stood accused of chasing the money after swapping Blackburn's push for UEFA Cup football for West Ham's battle against relegation.

Neill expects to run the gauntlet again tomorrow afternoon - but insists he could not have given any more to the Blackburn cause.

"I felt I had been at the club as long as I could be at the club and given them the best I could give them. I needed the change, wherever it was, to sharpen myself up," said Neill.

"I was too comfortable in my surroundings and I didn't want to get stale and I didn't want to put in performances that were just average or mediocre.

"I needed to go and give myself a new challenge and new people to impress and new team-mates to get myself stimulated again.

"That is why I was disappointed with the reception I got from Blackburn because I had given them six years, missing just four games a year for six years and never missing a day's training.

"I led the team in the last part of the season before I left and tried to do it to the best of my ability and I helped get them into Europe.

"I never came out in the press and said anything bad - and then to be booed for furthering my career was a little bit childish."

West Ham's victory at Ewood Park last year kick-started their dramatic survival campaign and Neill is determined to quieten his critics with a repeat performance.

"I had the last laugh that day and I am sure it will be the same again," said Neill.

"Apart from Chelsea last week I think this will be our hardest game to date. It is a compliment to Mark Hughes and his staff that when you play Blackburn you know you have been in a game because they always top the stats in stamina and sprints.

"There will be no greater pleasure than matching them for their work rate and taking the spoils."

It was Neill's tough, competitive attitude that attracted Alan Curbishley as he looked to inject experience and leadership into a struggling West Ham side last January.

"Lucas came to us and he immediately had an impact. I saw him as an ideal captain," said Curbishley.

"The biggest disappointment Lucas had was his reaction from the Blackburn fans. He gave great service to that club - but that is football and I am sure he will get a similar reaction this weekend."

Despite needing a change of scenery, Neill still holds Hughes in the highest regard and believes he is the ideal candidate to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

"The hardest decision was leaving what is a really, really good set-up. Mark was always trying to improve you as a person and a player," said Neill.

"Mark Hughes can take credit for the kind of character he helped me become, he made me a better professional and I was prepared for anything when I left.

"We had a good heart to heart the day I was leaving and he gave me his blessing.

"Now here I am today leading what I feel is a very big club, pound for pound a much bigger club than Blackburn, and Mark Hughes can take credit for that.

"I am not surprised how well Mark Hughes is doing, and the players, and I am sure, if it is not at Blackburn, he will go on to be very successful.

"He has experienced the best there is in Europe - with Manchester United, Barcelona, Chelsea and international football - and he has taken the best out of them and made his own style of management.

"Because he knows what it is to be successful he has made his footprint and he has everybody striving to achieve it.

"Mark Hughes has the potential to coach Manchester United. It is endless what he can do because he gets his message across and does it in such a professional way."