RICARDO Fuller is expected to return to Preston's starting line-up as the Lilywhites face wounded rivals Burnley in a tea-time hot pot of a local derby.

While Preston have bagged three points in the last two games - a much better ratio than having just drawn the games against Reading and Portsmouth - Burnley have seen their 12 match unbeaten run come to a stuttering halt.

First, Portsmouth knocked three past the Clarets without reply at Turf Moor on Saturday, and on Tuesday Burnley lost 6-5 at Grimsby.

he game has been described as a 'denfensive disaster for Burnley' and their firey manager Stan Ternant is sure to demand better from his players on Saturday.

The fact they scored five goals will be worrying Craig Brown.

His side were lucky not to concede against Reading, they have David Lucas and the woodwork to thank for their clean sheet, while at least one of the goals on Tuesday should have been stopped before the move got started.

Brown said: "The one goal should not have happened because Quashie shouldn't have been allowed to go free.

"But we went into the Portsmouth game with a plan and it worked.

The players were first class in the first 20 minutes and we have to build on that again this weekend.

The return of Ricardo Fuller can't come soon enough for North End.

Robbed of the Jamaican thanks to a harsh sending off in the dying minutes of the game at Bradford earlier this month, North End have had to contend with injuries to their other two first choice strikers as well.

Both David Healy and Richard Cresswell have been carrying knocks, Healy's in the form of an international duty septic blister and Cresswell was thought to have broken his foot.

Just hours before Saturday's game he was given the all-clear, but wisely used his head to score the winner for Preston.

Pawell Abbott has been called back while fans got the chance to see Tyrone Mears in his much-talked about striking role when he came on as a sub on Saturday.

But the return of Fuller can only be good news for Preston.

With Cresswell seemingly back on form - now the club,s top scorer - he may find himself benefiting from the attention opposition sides afford Fuller.

No-one is underestimating the class of Fuller, despite only being abut 80 per cent fit according to Brown, and as a result his chances have been limited as Division One defenders close him down.

At the other end, former Burnley player Marlon Broomes could run out against his old club, depending on whether Brown opts for the 4-4-2 style of play or the 3-5-2.

"Marlon has done an excellent job at left back," said Brown.

"But Rob Edwards is fit now and that is naturally his position.

The game is live on Sky Sports Extra. North End's only away league victory this season was at the same time on Sky, away at Derby.