STEVE Cotterill has called for three wins in a week to keep Burnley's season alive.

The Clarets entertain Sunderland tonight (7.45pm KO) in the first of thrpee successive home games in the coming eight days.

FA Cup quarter finalists Leicester City travel to Turf Moor next Tuesday with rock-bottom Rotherham the visitors next weekend.

And following the heartache of the midweek cup defeat to old foes Blackburn Rovers, Cotterill is urging his side to bounce back and keep alive their outside shot at the play offs.

"There's definitely still a lot to play for and I think this is a big week for us," insisted the Burnley boss.

"We play Friday, Tuesday and Saturday and we have to start winning games because we know if we go and get nine points, all of a sudden the season is not over. Even seven and it's not over."

He added: "We don't want to get beat in any of those games and we have certainly got to get two wins. We're always gambling because of the size of the squad, but I think we deserve to finish in a healthy position, and the next week will decide whether we play the remaining games out, or have something to kick on with.

"The crowd can play a big part. We would like to think we have given them a real roller-coaster ride this season, but we need them in the next three home games."

Cotterill will leave his team selection as late as possible following injuries that have again ruined his preparations. Midfielders Tony Grant and Micah Hyde both picked up knocks at Blackburn, where Frank Sinclair pushed himself through the pain barrier despite a hamstring tweak.

Fellow defender John McGreal has missed the last three games with a back problem, while former Sunderland winger John Oster is prevented from facing his old club through a contract clause when he left the Stadium of Light.

A late decision will also be made on new £600,000 signing Ade Akinbiyi, who could make his Burnley debut in front of the Sky cameras if player and manager agree his participation following a month out with a thigh strain will not be a gamble..

Cotterill added: "We have wrapped some of the players, like Tony and Micah, in cotton wool. Frank probably shouldn't have played at Blackburn, but he got the armband because he puts his neck on the block and players like that are invaluable.

"We still hope to be able to put out a team tonight, but if we can't then it will be makeshift so we need to wait as late as possible."

Meanwhile, Cotterill revealed he hopes to make a few "cheeky bids" for players to strengthen his squad over the coming weeks.

He said: "We're always looking for new players and I have thrown a few names at the chief executive to pass onto the chairman and see what he thinks.

"Some players are out of contract in the summer, so do you wait until they go in the market with everybody else, or do you put in a cheeky bid now and see if you can prise them away?

"I was talking about a couple of cheeky bids, but we're also having a look to see if there's a calculated risk out there as well."