STOCKPORT skipper Mike Flynn is backing Burnley for promotion because he has a lot of mates at Turf Moor.

But all friendship will be put to one side on Saturday when top faces bottom in a crucial clash at Turf Moor.

"I hope Burnley are in the Premier League next season for the sake of Ian Moore, Graham Branch, Tony Ellis and Ronnie Jepson," said Flynn. "But the only thing that really matters to me is keeping County in the first division."

That is already looking a tall order with County tailed off on just 12 points with only two wins this season but Flynn is not ready to wave the white flag yet.

And he believes the Hatters have good reason for believing they can upset the odds at Turf Moor this weekend.

"It is a typical top versus bottom game but I know there is no way Stan (Ternent) will underestimate us," he said.

"If we have a good day and they have a bad one, it could well be a shock.

"We have already done well against the top teams this season. We went to Man City and were four minutes from winning, we won at Bradford and were close to winning at Wolves. It is at home that our form has been bad.

"No one in the football world gives us a cat in hell's chance but we all know funny things do happen.

"I know Stan watched us against Wimbledon last weekend and he will be expecting a very tough game."

Flynn knows how much beating Burnley would mean to County fans as there is a rivalry between the two clubs dating back even before the second division play-off final at Wembley when the Clarets beat Danny Bergara's men.

"I sometimes think our fans would be happy to go down so long as we beat Burnley twice," he said.

"This one and the City game are the first the fans look for."

Those supporters have suffered this season but Flynn is confident that new manager Carlton Palmer can turn things around.

"He has been like a breath of fresh air," he said. "There were a lot of raised eyebrows when he came in but he is an England international who has played at the highest level.

"He has got Kevin Richardson and Colin Murphy alongside him and he has started changing things around.

"He has identified who he wants to keep and who can go and he has already brought some new faces in.

"I had been ready to leave when Andy Kilner was sacked because I was not happy and I felt some of our players were cheating the fans.

"I have been here nine years in March and I felt I had run my course. But Carlton told me he wanted me to stay and so I am ready to fight for County to stay up."

Flynn knows it will be a tough test at Turf Moor on Saturday because he believes the Clarets have what it takes to break into the big time.

"They finished last season strongly and Stan has got a very experienced squad," he said.

"He has also been given a bit of money when he has needed it and the great history of the club suggests they should be up there.

"I know some of the pundits have been surprised but I don't think any of the players in the division have been. It is more of a surprise that some of the bigger clubs are struggling."

As well as knowing Moore and Branch from Stockport and Ronnie Jepson and Tony Ellis from Preston, he is also aiming to catch up with physio Ian Liversedge who he knows from his time at Oldham.

"I'm looking forward to chatting to old friends, in fact I was on the phone to Mooro this week," he said.

"But they won't get any favours on the pitch."