STOKE City centre back Sergei Shtaniuk may be thinking he will be in for an easier Saturday afternoon this week - but he may have to think again.

Last Saturday, the Potters stopper was in Holland playing for Belarus in the European Championship qualifiers.

He faced Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy for just over an hour and his respite was then to have to hang on to the Red Devils' second half replacement Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The Chelsea striker added to the agony for Belarus in the Group Three clash as he netted the third goal for the Dutch.

Tomorrow Shtaniuk faces Robbie Blake at Turf Moor.

It may seem a less demanding mission but million-pound man Blake is now finding his form in Clarets colours.

His penalty and contribution to last Saturday's 2-1 win at Derby suggest he is now beginning to show what he really has to offer.

Blake may not be a predator in the mode of Van Nistelrooy or have quite the power of Hasselbaink, but Shtaniuk will find that if Blake is hot to trot then he could struggle with the former Bantams player's guile and ability to create difficult situations for defenders in and around the box.

Cooke poses a threat to his old friends

THE Clarets are well aware of the threat former striker Andy Cooke poses tomorrow.

Cooke looks set to lead the line for the Potteries side at Turf Moor and Clarets assistant boss Sam Ellis felt that knowing Cooke's game so well was something of a double-edged sword.

"Andy was a good servant of this club during our early period here and he is a good player," said Ellis.

"While it is fair to say we know his game and that could help us, equally we know just how good he can be too and that we need to be aware of him."

Cooke joined the Clarets in 1995 from Welsh League football and he became a hit with the Turf Moor fans.

The 28-year-old, who is an ever present so far this season for the promoted Potters, is ready to face his old friends and colleagues.

"I am really looking forward to the Turf Moor game," he said.

"I have a lot of great memories of Burnley and I made a lot of friends there."

Cooke moved on two years ago, but Ellis felt that he was not the only threat that tomorrow's visitors posed.

"They are a strong side and they will make life difficult for us," said Ellis.

"They have just been promoted and they are still bouncing because they now have the challenge of playing at the higher level.

"They are a club with great home support and they also have a lot of travelling fans. In many ways Burnley and Stoke are similar clubs and we know they will be a tough team."