The former Cheltenham team-mates are up against each other on the touchline for the first time - in a match of significance with Barnsley able to leapfrog Peterborough into fourth place if they win and Bolton fail to beat Bristol Rovers.

On the ex-Hull City boss, Barnsley head coach Duff said: "We used to room together at Cheltenham and Northern Ireland and I am godparent to his eldest child and we have stayed in contact.

"He's done brilliant. It's a funny one because as a player, you didn't think he'd go into this side of it. I don't know if he got thrown into it at Peterborough first time around, but talk to other people and everyone says how good he is.

"Everyone says really complimentary things about the way he handles people and training sessions.

"You don't have many close friends in football, but he's one of them. He's a good lad and I am know the family really well.

"We will have a chat before the game and no doubt we will fall out. We did a few times as players, but we'll go in the office afterwards and have a beer - win, lose or draw - and wish him all the best and hopefully we finish higher than they do."

Viewed as a ‘yo-yo’ club between the second and third-tier, Posh are again looking the part at League One level, more especially at home where their form is the second best in the division and goals are usually guaranteed.

Duff added: "They do take punts on non-league players and benefit from it. There's a skill within that.

"You look at the size of club, company they keep and levels they have been at, a lot of it is self-funded in terms of player sales and percentage of player sales.

"They are a well-run club. I know Grant was delighted to get back in as it's such a good club.

"Unless you have a rich benefactor, it's the way you have to do it - you have to cut your cloth. I know the chairman has put money in, but they don't have a sheikh to throw millions into it all the time.

"You have to find a different way of doing it. They have found their way and ours is young, data-led driven recruitment. Everyone has their own way. It's not easy, otherwise everyone would be doing the same thing."

Alongside matters on the pitch, Duff is conscious that the opening of the transfer window is less than a month away and he says that bringing in a new right wing-back will be one priority.

He said: "We are short in that part of the pitch, no getting away from that. Josh Benson did well last week, but he's not a right wing-back. It's good he can do it and needs must.

"Jordan Helliwell, Will Hondermarck, Jordan (Williams) and Tom Edwards have played there.

"We have resourced a few things, but it is probably an area we will try and do something with."

Last six games: Peterborough DLWLLL; Barnsley WWWWLW.

Referee: S Allison (Wilts).

Last time: Peterborough 0 Barnsley 0, November 27, 2021; Championship.

Peterborough v Barnsley: Michael Duff expecting to have a row with good mate Grant McCann