PAOLO Di Canio has played in some of the biggest derby fixtures in football but as he prepares for Swindon’s first meeting with fierce rivals Oxford in over eight years, the Italian believes his first as a manager will supersede all of them.

For someone who has experienced first hand the cauldron atmosphere of the Rome and Milan derbies as well as the Old Firm clash, it is hard to imagine that Di Canio would be phased by any other derby.

But the Town boss woke up yesterday morning feeling butterflies in his stomach for the first time in years, and now can think about nothing other than Sunday’s match.

“Until yesterday I did not feel pressure because I was thinking about what happened in the last game and I had to review and make sure we do not repeat the same mistakes,” said Di Canio.

“We have to improve how we played both on and off the ball and I could not think about the derby at the time, but since yesterday morning I woke up thinking about Oxford and I felt straight away the butterflies in my stomach.

“That will not let me lose the calm opinion or way to work with my players, but I am very happy to experience this because it reminded me once again in football what it feels to have that emotional moment. It was a long time ago that I last felt butterflies in my stomach.

“This is absolutely a very special game and for us it should be a World Cup final.”

Regardless of the fact Sunday’s game is a derby, Town need to pick up three points having lost their last two games.

Di Canio promised in the wake of Tuesday’s defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge that he could make up to four changes and he had not wavered from that statement yesterday.

And the 43-year-old believes that if the players he chooses to start against Oxford can take on at least a portion of the fans’ passion, then they will already have won half the battle.

“It is a massive game and I do not need to encourage my players because I think only a stupid person cannot know how lucky they are to go and face a rival like Oxford in front of maybe 13,000 of our fans,” he added. “My players are very lucky because they will have amazing fans behind them and even if think that my players individually.

“If my players put in even 10 per cent of the fans’ desire for this game, they will be okay, with 100 per cent we will win easy but even if they bring with them 10 per cent of the fans’ desire to give their best then I will be very happy because then we are in a right way.”

Di Canio was giving nothing away about his team selection on Sunday, only that he has assessed this week who he feels are prepared to give their all.

“I will choose the players that in my opinion will give their heart,” he said.

“No one can leave their heart outside of the field. You have to give your life in this game otherwise you cannot become a top player and feel the responsibility.

“The 11 who will start on Sunday must be an 11 who can play football but also give their heart.

“I don’t mean that a good technical player will not play but they have to show that even if they are not proper nasty people, that is what they have to become in a positive and professional way.”

With a big crowd expected for the game, Di Canio acknowledged that the fans too can play a big part in helping provide an extra lift to the players.

He said: “If a player goes close to the fans for a corner or near the goal and he can hear the fans screaming ‘come on’ with all their energy, he can find another 10 per cent of his energy.

“This is certain because this kind of game is an emotional moment and you feel adrenaline.

“If something happened to you where you have to help your family the adrenaline makes you react in a way you cannot imagine before.

“The fans are medicine and provide the energy and I cannot imagine my players will not give their best, but the fans will be very crucial.

Alberto Comazzi will not play due to injury while goalkeeper Mattia Lanzano could be added to the squad after recently returning to full fitness.

Spanish winger Lander Gabilondo has now signed for Town although it is not yet clear if he will be able to play a part on Sunday with Town still to receive his international clearance.