Sweeney brothers' reunion will be 'emotional'

Ryan Sweeney joined Burton ahead of last season from Scottish Championship side Dundee

Burton Albion defender Ryan Sweeney says playing against his brother Dan in this weekend's League One game with Stevenage will be "a little bit emotional" following the death of their father.

Saturday's match will be the second time the siblings have faced each other as professionals, with the first meeting between them in December when Stevenage won 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium.

The brothers missed the return fixture in April after the loss of their dad but are set to renew the family rivalry back at Burton.

"It's the first time we've played against each other since that happened, so I think it will be a little bit emotional," Sweeney told BBC Radio Derby.

"He was the catalyst for both of us in terms of where we are standing now in our careers.

"I think it's pretty incredible we're playing at this level of football."

The two first played against each other in a pre-season friendly in 2015 when Ryan was with AFC Wimbledon in League Two and older brother Dan with non-league side Kingstonian.

And Sweeney junior said the pair have been ramping up the banter in the build-up to their latest head-to-head, with their clubs separated by one place and two points in the table after two games.

"We've already been in each other's ear," he said.

"It's all been good-natured. He's my best mate, we're really close, and there's that moment twice a season when we're enemies for the day.

"He's had to do it the harder way than me - working through the non-league route - and he's had a very good career.

"We're both hungry to win and we'll do anything to do that.

"He's staying up after so I may have to kick him out if they get a positive result against us!"

Ryan Sweeney (left) first played against older brother Dan in a pre-season friendly between AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian ahead of the 2015-16 campaign