ALAS NEILD AND OLIVER

PETE: SO Andy it's back to Ewood Park, then? Will your lads be home from the desert in time?

ANDY: It depends if Souey backed the winner in the Dubai World Cup and they can afford the airfare.

PETE: Do you think sunburn will be a problem or will their batteries be re-charged for the final push?

ANDY: Well, it could go either way, Pete. Let's just hope Souey and the lads haven't lost the momentum after their break. But I would like to think they'll come back refreshed after looking tired against Wimbledon.

I suppose it's better than risking foot and mouth down at Gawthorpe, eh? Are you still having to disinfect your shoes?

PETE: There is a claim going into MAFF for compensation over these tidemarks but don't you worry about the Clarets. They'd rather be warming up with a win over QPR than getting bored stupid in Dubai and flying half-way across the world to get together with the rest of their team-mates worn-out from international duty.

ANDY: Looking at the formbook Pete , Burnley seem to travel about as well as Dennis Bergkamp? What's the reason for that?

PETE: Don't you worry about that Andy. Turf Moor and Ewood Park are only 10 miles apart so I'm sure the Clarets' home magic won't wear off.

Burnley hit their bad run away from home when they started leaking a few goals. Early in the season they were keeping it tight and nicking some priceless wins.

At Watford they kept a clean sheet and that's how the away jinx was broken thanks to Gareth Taylor's goal. So we'll have a bit more of the same please.

Anyway I hear Rovers have the cutting edge of a damp sponge when visiting teams come and play it tight.

ANDY: That's been a bit of a problem at Ewood this season despite Rovers impressive home record.

But Graeme Souness has stressed the need for patience and the players seem to have taken that on board.

PETE: Of your several million pound men who would be your biggest threat up front? You'll need to play the lot to have any chance of getting past Nik the Greek?

ANDY: Are you having me on? Matt Jansen will run rings around your lot if he's on song.

He has 16 goals to his name so far and he possesses the individual ability to unlock the tightest defence -- just ask our friends down the road at Preston. He and Marcus Bent are dynamite together because both have pace, aerial ability and a trick in their locker.

They are at their best running at defenders rather than with their backs to goal so it just depends if the rest of the side can supply the necessary service.

Speaking of Nik the Greek, a few eyebrows were raised when Stan brought him in? I hope he's better in goal than he is at catching plates.

PETE: Okay, so Nik decided not to bother when Jon Macken put one past him in the derby at Preston. But you can count his mistakes on one finger and the big stopper is going to get the freedom of the borough on Monday after another shut-out at Ewood.

Haven't Rovers got three foreign goalies to choose from plus a former Arsenal and Middlesbrough goalkeeper as back-up, back-up? How does the manager keep count, although I suppose Friedel hasn't done badly.

ANDY: Yes, Brad has been a revelation since his move from Liverpool. John Filan and Alan Kelly would both be worthy numbers ones at any other club in the division, not to mention a few Premiership clubs to boot, but hats off to Souness for bringing in the big American. He's barely put a foot wrong since he arrived in November and he's now a huge favourite with the fans.

Anyway, what about your strikers? Is Andy Payton going to get a game or what?

PETE: Payts will only need 20 minutes to do the business once Gareth Taylor and Ian Moore have worn out Henning Berg and Craig Short. Taylor will provide an aerial threat Rovers didn't have to cope with at Turf and Mooro's pace will have your back lads quaking in their boots. And what about Mitchell Thomas? After nearly two seasons without a goal, he's a cert to open his account.

And talking of service, Damien Duff's not in Glen Little's league?

ANDY: Come on, now you are having a laugh! Not in the impression stakes, perhaps, but there's no living with Duffer on his day. It's taken him a while to rediscover his form from last season but he proved he was back to his mesmerising best with that wonder goal on Birmingham's cabbage patch of a pitch.

He perhaps hasn't received the same plaudits this season because the team around him is far better but he's a definite matchwinner on his day.

And, if you're lads aren't careful he could have a field day.

What about Glen? He seems to be the only guy with a bit of flair in the Burnley side?

PETE: You've seen Glen dress then. There's no doubt when Blakey's on song Burnley are at their best. But Paul Weller is in the form of his life and capable of giving Stig Inge Bjornebye a chasing, while Paul Cook can still roll back the years and out-pass the best of the them with flying machine Branchy outside him on the left.

Enough about the fancy Dans, who's going to win the the battle of the hard men, Kevin Ball or Garry Flitcroft?

ANDY: I know Dunny has bought himself a new set of shinpads after the Turf Moor game!

But, seriously, that battle could well be one of the key contests and Flitcroft is a vital cog in the Rovers machine.

A lot of his work goes unnoticed but there's no doubt he supplies the solid platform necessary for Rovers' flair players to strut their stuff.

Burnley will certainly need Ball for the full 90 minutes if they want to avoid a hiding!

PETE: Bally's played in the best derby of the lot in the North-East so don't worry about his temperament and the one that laughs last laughs loudest.

ANDY: By the way, Pete, have you coughed up your £4 for the coach ride from the Turf?

I hear the fans aren't too happy at having to dig deep.

PETE: Actually I was hoping to get a lift with you as I can't afford the petrol. It's unfortunate that the fans are having to pay but you can't get there for nothing however you travel. And let's not forget Burnley's budget for a season would be kept in the petty cash in the Ewood bank vaults.

The police obviously want everyone to travel by coach and their handling of the first game was spot-on. Regardless of the result I hope there's no trouble inside or outside the ground. East Lancashire is in the national spotlight here thanks to Sky Television.

Anyway, enough waffling. Who's going to win it, then?

ANDY: Sorry, Pete, but I can't see anything but a Rovers win.

Man-for-man, they are the superior team and that extra class should show through if they play to anything like the levels they are capable of.

Burnley's only hope is to pack the midfield and hope to frustrate Rovers for as long as possible.

But if they come to defend for a full 90 minutes it could backfire.

PETE: Okay, I'm not going to argue on the current form or the fact that Rovers are now living up to expectations at the division's heavyweights.

They are red-hot favourites but all the pressure is on them to keep winning to hold off Bolton's challenge.

Burnley would love to be the party-poopers and they will be fighting for everything.

As long as they balance defence with attack and have a bit of luck on their side they can go and snatch a result. They might need the first goal though and then expose Blackburn on the break to wrap up a famous win.

ANDY: In your dreams....