Knill was sacked as Rotherham manager in March 2007 after battling to keep the club in business for 15 months.
The 43-year-old even suffered the ignominy of discovering his fate on television, but he has refused to let that setback hinder his management career.
While the Millers have since gone into administration for a second time and been forced out of their Millmoor home, Knill joined the backroom staff at Chesterfield before taking charge at Bury in February.
The former Bury and Rotherham defender has transformed the Shakers into promotion contenders this season and victory could take them back to the top of League Two.
"There will probably be an edge to this game," said Knill, who is set to name an unchanged line-up following Saturday's 3-1 win at Dagenham. "I got sacked, and I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't disappointed. But when you look back at all the troubles they've been through, it was probably one of the better things that happened to me.
Natural
"A lot of people phoned me when it happened to say I was better out of there, but at the time you don't think that.
"I did my best for the football club and kept them going for another year.
"I was bitter for a while, which is natural because there's nothing worse than seeing it come up on Sky Sports that you've been sacked.
"You can go one way or the other, and I chose to go this way. I managed to get straight back into work at Chesterfield and then I came here. I've got a lot to prove and there's nothing better than proving people wrong."
Knill got used to fighting fires at Rotherham, and sought assurances when he came to Bury.
"I wouldn't have come otherwise," he added. "There is no way I'd have left a good job at Chesterfield to come to somewhere that wasn't stable, and in the interview I asked those questions.
"I learnt that one pretty quickly, that I'd never do that again."
Bury league form: WDDLW
Rotherham league form: DWWDL
Key opponent: Richie Barker - on loan from Hartlepool and will be keen to impress
Prediction: Bury 2 Rotherham 1 - The Millers are a strong side and are full of goals but if Bury are at their best they should win
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
You can get 8/1 on Bury winning 2-1 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.
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