Sean Newton says he will "thrive on the abuse" he expects will be coming his way when he faces his former club Chester FC on Saturday.
The Wrexham left-back upset some Blues fans in an interview he gave in May, after leaving Lincoln City and signing for the North Wales club.
Newton admitted at the time: "When I was a youngster at Chester I would come off the pitch here and be thinking ‘I wish I was at Wrexham’.
"Maybe I shouldn’t have been thinking that, but it’s good to finally be here.”
Newton knows the comments could ensure he receives a less-then-friendly welcome at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.
“I played for Chester when I was a lot younger so it will be good to be playing against my old club,” said the 27-year-old. “I only made a handful of appearances, but I can’t wait for the game on Saturday.
“I never played in the derby, I travelled with the squad and been part of it, but never played in it, and to be part of it and playing in it is going to be a good feeling.
“When I signed, what I said caused that much fuss. I thought 'I’ve put my foot in it here', and I am going to get abuse against Chester, but I suppose that is part of football. I will thrive on the abuse I will get there and if anything it will only spur me on even more and want to get the three points even more.
“I’m not one to shy away from a bit of pressure, definitely if anything it will spur me on and make me work even harder and want to make us get the three points even more.”
Newton came through the youth system at Chester City and made only a handful of senior appearances for the club before spells with Droylsden, Barrow, Telford and Lincoln. He is looking forward to getting his first taste of a cross-border derby as a player.
He added: “I said a few days ago, if you go into any derby you could be six games unbeaten or on the back of six losses, in the derby game form goes out of the window.
“It is whoever turns up on the day and has the will to win the most and does the horrible side more than getting on the ball and making it happen. You need to go and win your battles and if you win your battles you get the three points.
“If someone gave me a 1-0 win now I would take it, and even if that was me having a stinker as well I would take it, but I can’t even tell you what will happen if I score the winner, I think my top will be coming off and everything.”
