STAN Ternent believes Saturday's win at Crewe could be a key result as he targets a first home win in more than two months.

Promotion chasing rivals Birmingham City are the visitors to Turf Moor tonight and Ternent claimed: "We deserved the victory at Crewe and it could be a very big win for us.

"We know we need to get more points because 60 is not enough. If we can win four or five games quickly it will put us in a play off situation and then we can crack on from there.

"Most of the sides have got to play each other and I think the points total to go up may not be a great as usual."

And despite having not recorded three points at home since beating Stockport County on December 15, he believes the Turf Moor form will be vital to their success.

"Our home form has been good, we have only lost three times, and we now have seven games at home and five away," he said.

"Our home matches are against teams that are considered contenders for the play-offs and promotion and we need to try to win those games."

The Burnley boss knows that tonight's opponents, currently in ninth place, fall into that category and he said: "Birmingham are a good side with some very good players.

"We know they are a big club and they have been there or thereabouts for the past few seasons but if we want to realise our ambitions it is the sort of challenge that we have to meet."

Ternent has seen his side dig deep in their last two games, earning a late equaliser against Nottingham Forest and battling hard against Crewe and he stressed: "I think the players I have got here have proved time and time again that they will keep going for the full 90 minutes."

Ternent faces a few selection posers ahead of tonight's game as he is forced to change a wining line-up.

"Gordon Armstrong won't be available because of his hamstring but at least Arthur Gnohere is okay after suspension," he said.

"Steve Davis is coming back pretty well but Granty is still not available."

Key decisions will be made at both the back and the front as he shuffles his pack in an effort to find a winning formula.

Stand-in skipper Kevin Ball had a fine game at centre half alongside Ian Cox but Gnohere's return does offer him alternatives at the back and in midfield.

In the last two games Ternent has opted to play Gareth Taylor as a lone striker and the Wales international rewarded him with his best display for several weeks, including a goal two days before his 29th birthday. He has already scored a personal best 13 goals this season but he would love to notch another against Steve Bruce, his former manager at Sheffield United.

Having seen Marlon Beresford make his 300th appearance in a Burnley shirt on Saturday, Ternent repeated that he is keen to keep him at the club for a bit longer as his month long loan spell ends this week.

"Nik is coming back and it will be a nice problem when I have to choose between the two," he said. "I have spoken to Marlon and he has said that he would like to stay.

"I would like him to stay so I will have to speak to Steve McClaren about the situation."