MITCHELL Thomas could make his first appearance since last season against Premier side Chelsea on Saturday.

The defender, who only missed three games for the Clarets last season, has sat out most of pre season with an abductor strain and hasn't yet played a game although he returned to training this week.

With the competition for places hotting up at Turf Moor, the 36-year-old will be desperate to get out and try and secure his regular place -- and test himself against French World Cup winners Marcel Desailly and Emmanuel Petit, Italian Gianfranco Zola and former Rovers favourite Graeme Le Saux.

"Hopefully he may be able to play against Chelsea," said Burnley boss Stan Ternent. "But we will have to see how he progresses.

"If not then we have a couple of reserve matches leading up to the Sheffield Wednesday game.

"But I would prefer for him to have a bit of a game against a team of internationals and World Cup winners."

Thomas has been the only casualty of the pre season and Ternent says it is because he has used squad rotation -- shown by 11 substitutes in Tuesday night's 1-0 defeat to Everton.

"Basically what I have done is shared it out," said the boss.

"The reason I have done that is two fold.

"One because I need everyone to play and get a feel of if and secondary, and more importantly, when players start to get tired and you push them too hard they can get an injury or a little bit of a strain.

"That is why I have tried to bring them on gradually."

Ternent is still looking at his options this season and does not intend to put out what he considers his strongest side until the season kicks off against Sheffield Wednesday on August 12.

"I don't really need to play what I would consider to be my first eleven at this stage," said Ternent.

"We have been together for a while now and we do spend a lot of time on team play and stuff so whichever players play they are aware of their role." in whichever system we want to play.

"The most important thing in pre season for me is getting the players to a peak for the start of the season without injury. That is very important."

After bringing on a whole new team in the second half against the Toffeemen, the Burnley boss isn't sure whether he will use the same tactics against Claudio Ranieri's side.

"Maybe, maybe not. We'll see.

"I need them to play. We have had reserve matches, been to the Isle of Man, we had couple of closed doors friendlies so they have played seven games now and are getting towards it.

"I'll have to decide what is best for that one."

But one thing that has pleased the Burnley management team is the fact they have the option to do that.

"We do have a lot more strength in depth and it is healthy competition.

"I would prefer to have this situation than what I had when I came here three or four years ago.

"Three years down the line we have stayed in the division, had a promotion, maintained our First Division status and to do better than last season, if that could happen, then we will be making progress. We would be in the play-offs at worst.

"All in all, the club has been turned round, we are doing quite well but it is a very difficult division."