Ricky Burns believes a win over undefeated Mexican-American Omar Figueroa in Texas on Saturday night will put him firmly back on the world title trail.

Former two-weight world champion Burns meets the former WBC lightweight king in a mouth-watering clash at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo.

Burns is looking to move back into world title contention having lost his WBO Lightweight crown to Terence Crawford and then slipped up against Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin in June.

The Scotsman did bounce back by beating Alexandre Lepelley last time out and knows it is crucial for him to follow that success up with another win.

“This is such a huge fight for me,” said Burns. “I have had a tough time of it in and out of the ring recently. But that's in the past and it's time to get back to performing in the ring and doing what I love.

“We wouldn't have taken the fight if we didn't think I can win it and I am confident that I will.

“I don’t want to contemplate defeat, I am not thinking about it – but there’s no doubt that I need to win this to get back on track and into more big fights.”

Burns is fulfilling a lifelong dream by fighting in the United States and he insists he is not daunted by the prospect of facing Figueroa in his hometown.

“When I was told that it was likely I was going to be fighting in America I didn't really care who it was, I am just looking forward to the challenge of boxing in the States,” Burns said.

“I'm going into his hometown and he'll have the crowd behind him, but they can't help him when the bell goes, it's down to him and I and the best man will win on the night.

“Omar is a very good fighter, there's no denying that – you don't become WBC champion without being good.

“We've seen a lot of him though, Kevin beat the guy that Figueroa beat last time out so Tony has seen plenty of him and so have I.

“Our styles will mix and it's his debut at 140lbs so it's a new thing for him to cope with.

“Tony has been working on lots of tactics so I have more than one game-plan to beat him and the fans are in for a treat.”

Burns’ clash with Figueroa in Texas is part of a huge night of action on Sky Sports as Jamie McDonnell defends his WBA World Bantamweight title against Tomoki Kameda on the same bill as Burns.

In the UK, Anthony Joshua MBE faces South American champion Rafael Zumbano Love and all-action Stourbridge youngster Sam Eggington’s first major title shot as he faces Joseph Lamptey for the vacant Commonwealth Welterweight title vacated by Frankie Gavin.

World-rated Birmingham fighters Kal Yafai and Matthew Macklin are in action and there is a welcome return for Liverpool’s Super Middleweight star Callum Smith while Joshua’s fellow Olympic Gold medal winner Luke Campbell MBE fights for the 11th time in the paid ranks.

Watch Live Saturday Fight Night on May 9 from 7.30pm on Sky Sports 2 HD.