THE bookies may have table topping Burnley at 3-1 on to beat bottom side Stockport County at Turf Moor tomorrow but manager Stan Ternent warned: "We will certainly not be complacent.

"I watched Stockport play against Wimbledon last Saturday, they played very well and didn't get a break all day."

That defeat was their fourth in succession, a run that compares unfavourably with the Clarets who are unbeaten in eight and on the back of five straight wins.

But Ternent believes that being four points clear at the top of the table will not earn his side any more respect than they have had in the past.

"I think every side treats every other side seriously if they are doing their job properly," he explained. "This is a very tough league and any team can beat any other.

"We are at the halfway mark and we have got our noses in front. But I have got some injuries and suspensions so I would like to strengthen my squad."

For the third time in four games Ternent has to make a change as a key player is suspended. Having lost Lee Briscoe against Grimsby and Gareth Taylor at Crystal Palace, it is Tony Grant's turn to miss out having collected five bookings.

"Injuries and suspensions will take their toll because having a settled side is normally a good thing," he said. "Tony Grant is out, Andy Payton and Paul Cook are away on loan and Steve Davis, Mitchell Thomas and Lennie Johnrose are all injured. I feel we are a little thin on the ground."

Despite that he does have a number of options available to him when it comes to selection. Top scorer Taylor was left on the bench for last weekend's win at Deepdale and Ternent said: "Gareth was always going to play some part and it worked out well for us."

Taylor may start on Saturday, resuming his partnership with County old boy Ian Moore. In addition Paul Weller, like Taylor a sub on Sunday, will be wanting to return in midfield for a game that Ternent knows is vital.

"Even though we are four points clear we have no real breathing space," he said. "Every game is vitally important.

"We aim to do our best in every game, we go out to win them all but you do need a little bit of luck."

Stockport County's novice boss Carlton Palmer will certainly need his fair share of that if he is to turnaround the fortunes of the Edgeley Park side.

With just two wins and 12 points in the bag halfway through the season it looks like being a long hard winter.

Ternent said: "When you get a job, 99 times out of 100 the reason there has been a change is because things aren't going well.

"But I don't have any great great sympathy for him, I don't have a concern for anyone other than Burnley Football Club. As well as being my job, this is my hobby.

"We are unfashionable in respect of some of the bigger sides in the division but as I have kept saying, it is not the size of the dog....."

Ternent is aware of the pressure of playing at the top but he is delighted by the way his players have handled it so far.

"We have talked about this and being top of the league is a different ball game," he said. "But we have to live with it, we are there to be shot at.

"We have got quality in our side, we are a decent team and I know if we play to our full potential we are hard to beat."

An ever growing number of sides can testify to that.