STAN Ternent believes that tomorrow's Red Rose derby against Preston North End is the biggest game of the season so far - but only the first of several.

The Clarets fate will be decided over the next five weeks as they seek to consolidate their position in the top six.

"This is our biggest game of the season, we have got eight cup finals coming up," he admitted.

"I have not set a points target but I think a total somewhere in the mid-70s will see us there or thereabouts."

While his team has enjoyed a week without a game, training hard having been buoyed by last Saturday's success at Stockport County, it has been a very different time for North End who have suffered the loss of their manager David Moyes.

"That does not concern me one iota," admitted Ternent. "It is nothing to do with me what happens at Preston.

"But I do wish David Moyes well because he has done very well at Preston. I wish him the best of luck."

And he insisted that he is not bitter that despite all his success as a manager he has never been handed the chance to manage a top flight club.

"I've had a lot more promotions that him but I have not thrown my hat in because I don't want to," he explained. "If I did want to I'd let the press know.

"People at different clubs know who they want and in his three and a half years managerial experience and done extremely well."

While Moyes started his fight against relegation this afternoon, Ternent is hoping that his team will put a huge dent in his former team's promotion hopes.

"We have worked very hard this week and the players are in very good spirits," he said. "Any win is important and we have got 24 points to play for. We have not reached the play-offs yet and that is our target.

"The nearer you get to the finishing line, you have to be right. You have to be strong mentally and I have got a squad of players who are.

"They are very fit, they are focused and I have said on many occasions that I trust them."

The Clarets have enjoyed mixed fortunes when playing in ITV Digital's Sunday evening time slot, winning 2-0 at Sheffield Wednesday on the first weekend of the season but losing by the same score when West Bromwich Albion visited last month.

"We seem to play every day of the week and you never know where you are up to," claimed Ternent. "Every night of the week there is a match in the Nationwide League."

But this game could kick off at any time and its importance would be clear to all.

Ternent agreed: "It should be smashing, a real good night. It may be a strange time but it is a big match for us and we will be ready."