IF Burnley's players thought they were on a learning curve under Steve Cotterill, it's about to get a whole lot steeper!

The Clarets have met most of the challenges laid down by Cotterill during his five months initiation at Turf Moor.

But the Burnley boss believes his side will learn more tonight against Aston Villa than a month's worth of tussles with their Championship rivals.

He insisted: "This is an attractive proposition for all my players because you can learn more against a Premiership side than you can learn in three or four games in the league.

"They are a top eight Premiership side and David O'Leary has done a terrific job since taking over as manager.

"They have a settled side stacked full of good players, and while I know it's been suggested that they might rest one or two, we have to approach the game in exactly the same manner.

"They are all Premiership players and whoever they bring in is used to playing at that level."

For all Burnley fans, tonight represents a welcome break from the pressure of picking up league points.

Victories over Bury at Gigg Lane, then the dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Wolves in round two has given Burnley the chance to take a notable Premiership scalp.

But Cotterill insists he will not find time to relax on the touchline as the hurly-burly of league action takes a back seat.

He said: "It's great that Villa are going to be coming here. We've got through two tough games, our reward is Premiership opposition at Turf Moor and it's fantastic that our supporters will be able to see the good players they have got.

"I watched them myself as a kid because they were only an hour up the road from my home in Cheltenham.

"We've earned this game and the right to play them, but I don't know if you can relax when you have to keep an eye on the likes of Carlton Cole, Juan Pablo Angel, Nobby Solano, Peter Whittingham, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Lee Hendrie.

"Then there's Gavin McCann in midfield and Olof Mellberg from set plays, so I'm sure I'll be really relaxed on the touchline!"

One contest Cotterill is looking forward to is the battle between Richard Chaplow and Villa midfielder McCann.

The Clarets boss got a close-up view of McCann's all-round ability during his ill-fated six month spell as assistant manager at Sunderland.

Shortly after leaving the Stadium of Light, England midfielder McCann earned himself a £2.25m move to Villa Park, where he has entrenched himself in David O'Leary's plans.

And Cotterill admitted: "This will be a hell of a test for Richard Chaplow because I believe Gavin is one of the best around.

"You have to work with him to know how good he is and if I was manager of a Premiership club, he would get in my team every day of the week.

"If he was picked to play for England tomorrow, he would give a good show of himself because he is a very, very good player.

"He strikes a good ball, he is competitive and he has everything really."