Question about backup files

[Ben Key <BenK@FreedomScientific.com>]

The following is an excerpt from the GNU Emacs manual:
  "You can also explicitly request making another backup
  file from a buffer even though it has already been saved
  at least once.  If you save the buffer with `C-u C-x C-s',
  the version thus saved will be made into a backup file
  if you save the buffer again.  `C-u C-u C-x C-s' saves the
  buffer, but first makes the previous file contents into a new
  backup file.  `C-u C-u C-u C-x C-s' does both things: it
  makes a backup from the previous contents, and arranges
  to make another from the newly saved contents if you save
  again."

My question is, is it possible to create a more simplified
keystroke assignment that implements the same behavior
as `C-u C-u C-u C-x C-s'.  For example, I would like to assign
this behavior to 'ESC C-x C-s'.