West Brom defender Billy Jones is hoping neighbours Villa survive their Premier League relegation fight to preserve next season's derby-days.
Jones has missed the Black Country rivalry this season and the prospect of losing the Villa versus West Brom fixture gives him no pleasure.
Although the dust-ups with Wolves have produced plenty of attention in recent years, many Baggies fans still consider the Villa showdown as the sharpest of the derby contests.
Jones says the players are relishing their top-billing in the mini-League of West Midlands clubs and says: "We're aware of the 'we know what we are' song and 'the Kings of the West Midlands' as such.
"It was nice we finished in that top spot in the Midlands and had also did well in both derby fixtures against Villa and Wolves.
"From the fans' point of view I'm sure they would like to see Villa in the Championship and us be the only team in the West Midlands in the Premier League.
"But you look at the big games throughout the season and you have your top six, who are massive clubs with big stadiums and are classed as the big games.
"Then you have your local derbies and they are the biggest games of the season for the fans because of the bragging rights."
Jones believes Villa will survive but is looking forward to the day when the Premier League can claim a full complement of clubs from the M6 corridor.
He said: "We have probably got the Villa games to look forward to next season and I'm sure one day it will be us, Villa, Wolves and Birmingham all in the Premier League again, going at it.
"I think if Villa went down, it would be boring for the fans. The first fixtures they normally look out for are the derby games.
West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster today told his team-mates to trust head coach Steve Clarke as the Baggies looked ahead to a summer of change.
West Brom defender Billy Jones is hoping neighbours Villa survive their Premier League relegation fight to preserve next season's derby-days.
West Brom boss Steve Clarke will look to give England under-17 star Isaiah Brown the chance to become the club's second-youngest debutant before the season is out.
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