BURNLEY'S players return to league duty against Derby County tomorrow with a blunt message from manager Stan Ternent - don't mention the F- word.

"We have got to put the Fulham game on the backburner this weekend," insisted the Burnley boss. "The league is still our priority and we have to look to win our next game against Derby."

The Clarets start the weekend in the lower reaches of the table but knowing that the play-offs are still very much in sight.

But with just 16 games to go, he acknowledged: "We really need to string some wins together, go on a bit of a run and then see where we are. It is a tall order but there is no reason why we can't.

"We have a massive month ahead of us in March and we have got to maintain our form from the last two games."

Ternent has been boosted by the fact that most of his players are now fit for action, the only problems ahead of the Derby game being Steve Davis and Glen Little.

"I think they are both a week or two away but with more players being fit it gives me choices," he said. "Also it means the lads have to perform because if they don't, people are waiting to come in. That hasn't always been the case this season.

"Paul Weller had a little test at Fulham last week and he is important to us, as they all are.

" He and one or two others could have done with a game in the reserves but he has trained well all week and stepped up his work."

With more fit men available, Ternent has insisted that players will be dropped if they don't perform well and Arthur Gnohere is one man with a fight on to get back in the side.

He said: "Coxy was not even on the bench in a couple of games but he has come in and grabbed his chance. He has done ever so well.

"Drissa has been doing well and so Arthur is out of the team at the moment, we have got Mark McGregor and the skip is coming back.

"Arthur will be in the squad and he will have to wait and see when an opportunity will present itself."

In the last home game, the Clarets collapsed to a 5-2 defeat against Reading, and Ternent admitted he had deliberately tightened things up in the last couple of games.

"We need to be hard to beat but I know the side will score goals," he said.

At Fulham on Sunday that meant dropping leading scorer Robbie Blake to the bench but Ternent said: "That was not detrimental to the player, it was not because he was not performing. I just felt that formation and that team was best for that particular game."

That Reading defeat is the one defeat in the last ten games and Ternent hopes to see that run extended with another victory against Derby tomorrow.

It was at Pride Park that Burnley finally kick-started their season, winning at the sixth time of asking.

Another win at Turf Moor tomorrow could be the launchpad for the rest of the season and success in both league and Cup.

But remember - don't mention Fulham!

Having said that, should Burnley reach the last eight their match at Watford will be played at 1.30pm on Sunday March 9, live on BBC television.