FIT-again centre-back David Mirfin believes a derby trip to Doncaster Rovers presents about as tough a start to 2011 as Scunthorpe United could have faced.

But he is convinced it is a test for which the Iron are ready.

Locked in mid-table, Championship survival is Rovers' primary aim for the campaign, but having proven themselves capable of out-playing the most fancied of opponents, many consider them an outside bet for the play-offs.

Only in-form Nottingham Forest, yet to be beaten at the City Ground, have lost fewer matches in front of their own fans than the South Yorkshire side's single defeat (a 3-2 reverse against Derby in mid- October).

But buoyed by a well-deserved first win in six attempts at Burnley on Tuesday, Mirfin is hopeful United can finally begin to climb the table again.

A wish for some consistency on the pitch is not a new year's resolution for the former Huddersfield defender. It's a necessity if they are to pull clear of the bottom three.

"We needed a result like that," said Mirfin of the win at Turf Moor, where he was back on the bench after a two-month absence with a foot injury.

"We fully deserved the three points and I think it was the sort of game we've been waiting for. For me it was our best all-round performance for some time.

"Hopefully it will be a catalyst, because we've got a great weekend to build on that result. This is a good time of the year to start building momentum.

"I've said before that if you win two or three games on the trot you could move up something like six places.

"The Championship has always been tight and I think it will be like that up until the end of the season. It's up to us though now to get a bit of consistency going."

United's recent record against their South Yorkshire neighbours is poor.

Despite their success story, the Iron have beaten Rovers just once in the last nine attempts and need to avoid defeat at the Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow to avoid having the double completed over them.

Ex-Scunthorpe striker Billy Sharp scored twice against his former club when Doncaster triumphed 3-1 at Glanford Park on October 16 – Ian Baraclough's side have not won at home since – and for Mirfin, whether he is involved or not, keeping a lid on his fellow Sheffielder should be the visitors' top priority tomorrow.

Mirfin though says past form counts for nothing when it comes to morale amongst the Iron squad, which is why at Burnley – albeit with the benefit of three weeks without a game – Scunthorpe were able to turn in a performance of such contrast to their previous outing, the 3-0 loss at Millwall.

"I've always said I don't think morale and confidence have ever been an issue here," continued the Yorkshireman.

"The lads are so young and just want to play football, so that if we lose a game, we can't wait to move onto the next one to try to get a result.

"That's been the same over the last four or five weeks, but then equally we haven't had many games in that time.

"Doncaster is a tough place to go. They are a good side.

"But on the other hand, it couldn't be a better game with the result we had at Burnley and the fact we'll be going there with no pressure on us.

"There's no reason why we can't go there and build on that result."

Mirfin is unsure whether he will get a chance to shackle Sharp himself tomorrow, given the displays of Rob Jones and Cliff Byrne at Burnley.

But if called upon, he insists he is as ready as he can be to return to first-team action, after being sidelined for two months with a torn tendon on the sole of his foot.

It's the latest in a series of niggling injuries that have blighted Mirfin's two-and-a-half years at Glanford Park and meant he is yet to enjoy a sustained run of regular first-team football.

Despite so often the key member of the Iron back four, it's a situation the 25-year-old feels has held him back.

"It has been really frustrating because this injury is one we couldn't really have done anything to prevent," said Mirfin.

"I came in pre-season, sat down with Alex (physio Alex Dalton) and we put together a programme to try to prevent the niggles, which, touch wood, so far has happened.

"Hopefully if I keep doing the injury prevention work that I've got, they'll keep away and I'll finally get a good run in the team.

"I think I've been lucky in that when I've been fit, I've been playing.

"In my last couple of years at Huddersfield, that wasn't always the case.

"I've still played a lot of games while I've been here, though I still feel like I need a good run and that's what I'll be striving for when I get back in the team.

"I'd have been okay to come on at Burnley if needed, but I know, and the staff know, I need more minutes in training.

"My foot has held up for 10 days in training now which is a good stage to have got through.

"To get a game and get on the pitch is what I need now for the next step of my recovery."