BURNLEY may be facing the unusual experience of seeing the season come to an uneventful end but there is one goal still very much in sight - local pride.

On Tuesday night they welcome Red Rose rivals Preston North End to Turf Moor with the two sides battling to be the pride of Lancashire in the first division.

For most of the season the Clarets have been well clear of Craig Brown's side but their slump has coincided with a good run for the Lilywhites and they went into the weekend ahead of Burnley.

The encounter between the two sides at Deepdale earlier in the season was entertaining but ultimately disappointing for the visitors as Ricardo Fuller inspired Preston to a 3-1 win.

The Jamaican star netted twice that afternoon but is now sidelined until next season with a knee injury.

His loss prompted a dip in form that all but ended any hopes of a push for the play-offs but in recent weeks they have been one of the form teams in the first division with a run of victories.

The striker brought in to replace him, George Koumantarakis is also now out until the end of the season so it is likely to be either Pawel Abbott or Simon Lynch who will partner Richard Cresswell in attack.

North End were at home against Coventry City this afternoon and manager Brown is beginning to sound bullish about his side's chances of pushing for a Premiership place in 12 months time.

A number of players will be moved on with Brown, like Ternent, having to decide which players will have new contracts in the summer.

Midfielders Iain Anderson and Mark Rankine are definitely on their way out and are currently on loan at Tranmere Rovers and Sheffield United respectively. Two other players, Michael Keane and David Healy, are also on loan at other clubs.

One man who has come back in is Rossendale midfielder Lee Cartwright, who has been operating down the right, with the USA international Eddie Lewis down the other wing.

Ternent will certainly know all about the men in the heart of the North End defence as club skipper Chris Lucketti will be partnered by either Michael Jackson or Marlon Broomes.

Jackson and Lucketti were both important parts of the Bury success story when Ternent was in charge at Gigg Lane while Broomes spent last summer training with the Clarets while he was out of contract before being snapped up by their rivals just before the start of the season.

He struggled in early matches in an unfamiliar left back role but has been more impressive of late in the centre back position he prefers.

The Clarets have defeated North End in the last two seasons at Turf Moor and they will be desperate to make it a hat trick and give the fans something to cheer on Tuesday night.