MARK McGregor knows he needs to hit the ground running alongside Graham Branch in the heart of Burnley's defence this weekend.

The duo will be partners for the first time this season at Walsall tomorrow and then against Watford at Turf Moor on Monday.

And McGregor, who replaces the suspended David May, insisted: "We have to find a partnership quickly and then hopefully everything will click into place.

"We have trained all week together and we looked okay, so we should be fine.

"I hope I can come back in and do a decent job for the team.

"That's what's expected of me and I have to get on with the job because this is a massive weekend for the club.

"Everyone is playing for six points and if we can come out with at least four more to the total, we will be looking good.

"It might not take 50 points, but obviously you have to keep going until you get enough and it's vitally important we don't lose to Walsall because then they miss out on the points as well."