THE special atmosphere of FA Cup third round day has had everyone at Turf Moor buzzing this week, according to assistant boss Sam Ellis.

"We are really looking forward to it but we know it will be another difficult game for us," he explained.

"We've had them watched a few times and we are treating them the same way we treat all our opponents. I hope all our players are in the same frame of mind.

"We rate them as a very good side that has got Conference potential. They have got some very good senior players in the side and are having a great season. We will be putting out our strongest side from the start because we are looking forward to going as far as we can in the Cup."

And while Burnley boss Stan Ternent has not managed to bring in any new faces this week, the squad has been strengthened by two ahead of tomorrow's game with the return of Paul Cook and Andy Payton from loan spells at Wigan and Blackpool respectively.

They will be available for selection by Stan Ternent with Cook, an ever present before his surprise switch to Wigan, the more likely to be involved.

That means just long term injured Steve Davis and Mitchell Thomas and Graham Branch, coming back from hamstring trouble, will be ruled out.

But whoever plays Ellis knows it is important that the Clarets make home advantage count.

"The fact it is a bigger pitch in a bigger ground should suit us better," he said, and he is hoping that the club will not repeat the displays that saw them lose twice to lower league opposition twice in 2001.

Scunthorpe beat them on penalties in the FA Cup third round a year ago and earlier this season Rushden and Diamonds, fresh out of the Conference, knocked Burnley out of the Worthington Cup at Turf Moor.

"Those games are not a worry to us, we hope we have learned from those situations and it is just a case of putting them into practice. It was frustrating for everyone that we had the match against Bradford called off but it is only at 5pm that we will know whether it had a good or bad affect on us."

And if the Clarets need to fight complacency they only need recall the events of 27 years ago when, as a first division club, they lost 1-0 at home to non-League Wimbledon.