FOR much of the season the battle at the top of the first division has been the tightest seen in many years.

At times only a handful of points and a couple of wins have separated the top 15 sides with everyone seemingly capable of beating everyone else.

But now the table is takign shape with 20 points separating top side Wolves from Preston North End in tenth.

Burnley boss Stan Ternent insists that with three points for a win it is still too soon to discount the sides that currently lie out side the top ten but with most teams having only a dozen or fewer games left before the end of the season it is doubtful that any side below North End will be able to mount a serious challenge.

So with a full programme oif first division games tomorrow the time is right to take a check on the run-in for the Clarets and also their promotion chasing rivals.

No one has more home games to come than Burnley who have seven sides still due to visit Turf Moor. They have lost ground on in-form Manchester City, Wolves and West Brom in a spell that meant Saturday's win at Crewe was only their second in ten games.

But they are now unbeaten in five and ready to kick-on in the final, frenetic weeks of the season. It will be a roller-coaster ride for the manager, the players and of course the fans but this is what they have to look forward to.

The first of the promotion rivals that still have to visit Turf Moor and tomorrow night's clash will be keenly contested.

The Clarets are chasing a double having won at St Andrews but the Blues continued a good recent run with a 3-2 defeat of Watford on Saturday.

Tuesday 26 February Birmingham City (H)

Saturday 2 March Norwich City (H)

Tuesday 5 March Walsall (A)

Sat 9 Stockport County (A)

Sun 17 Preston North End (H)

Sat 23 Sheffield United (A)

Sat 30 Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

APRIL

Mon1 Portsmouth (A)

Sat 6 Gillingham (H)

Sat 13 Grimsby Town (A)

Sun 21 Coventry City (H)