UTILITY man Graham Branch is ready to knuckle down in the left-back slot to help Burnley get their First Division campaign firing on all cylinders again.

Despite being a naturally attacking player the versatile Branch has filled in successfully on the left-hand side of the Clarets defence in the absence of long-term injury victim Lee Briscoe.

With Briscoe set for at least a further fortnight on the sidelines Branch is likely to continue in that role against Crystal Palace at Turf Moor tomorrow and face a key tussle with Palace winger Tommy Black.

"I really enjoyed playing up front against Gilllingham with Ian Moore and I thought I did quite well," said Branch, who came off the bench to grab the winner at Selhurst Park in September.

"But when the gaffer called me in on the Monday I honestly thought he was going to drop me.

"I would still prefer to be running at people than running after people but the gaffer puts me there and I play to the best of my ability wherever he puts me and just get on with it.

"The gaffer expects me to play anywhere and I'll do it. He's the boss so I'm just doing as I'm told."

Branch had the licence to get forward and score his fifth goal of the season at Crewe last Saturday.

But he expects to be more occupied at the back tomorrow to help out Steve Davis and Ian Cox in keeping tabs on Palace's dangerous front pair of Clint Morrison and Mikael Forssell, as well as going head-to-head with Black.

The former Arsenal youngster is a tricky customer and is keen to put one over the Clarets for the first time in four attempts this season.

After Branch's winner in the League, Burnley twice drew with the Londoners in the Worthington Cup -- although Palace went through on away goals and enjoyed a magnificent run to the semi-finals.

Black said: "I spoke to (coach) Glenn Cockerill earlier this week and said 'when are we actually going to beat this lot ?'

"We've played them three times and not beaten them once in normal time. We needed away goals in the Worthington Cup and were all over them at Selhurst Park and lost 1-0.

"I think we feel we owe them one. They were possibly the worst side we have played at home and we think we are a better side, although the League doesn't reflect that right now, and the team has got a point to prove."

Palace have recovered from a dismal start to climb to 15th in the table with an unbeaten four-game run behind them.

However, they are still nine points worse off than the Clarets having played a game more and Branch insists that Burnley are still upbeat despite their mini-revival coming off the rails at Crewe last Saturday.

"I don't think the lads are lacking in confidence which showed against Crewe when we played very well. We've just got to start putting that into wins," he added.

"It's still a good spirit with the lads but I think we need a few more wins to get people off our backs, which doesn't help.

"I think the reason why so many people are on our backs is because we started off so well and I think they were expecting us to go straight up.

"The gaffer said that he wants us to stay in the division and I think we're going to do that comfortably. The expectation is so high around there that they expect us to do more than just stay in the league.

"But it's up to us. We've got 18 games left and we'll try and win our fair share of those and see where we end up at the end of the season."