BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent rates Wimbledon as top-six prospects but has backed his players to mix it with the best ahead of tomorrow's Turf Moor opener.

Ternent believes the Dons are in with a chance of an instant Premiership return following their relegation in May.

But with Burnley getting their First Division campaign off to an impressive start with a 1-1 draw at Bolton a week ago the Clarets manager insists they have nothing to fear.

Ternent said: "Wimbledon have got some very good players and they are a well fancied team. I'm sure if you were having a fiver on someone, six teams for arguments sake, Wimbledon would have to come into that equation, I would have thought.

"Everybody's still fairly euphoric on the back of promotion and the game at Bolton last week when the players did pretty well but the bottom line is that Burnley and Wimbledon are on a level footing, playing in the same league.

"We have to be able to play the Wimbledons and the Boltons and the so-called bigger clubs at our level. "That's the challenge. But I am confident we can compete at this level. We have to. This is what we wanted and this is what we got."

Glen Little is pushing for a starting slot after turning the game as a second-half substitute at Bolton and his return could be the only change for the Clarets with Phil Gray expected to be fit.

Andy Payton is closing in on a return from injury but tomorrow's game could come too soon.

Ternent added: "Phil Gray has just done some light stuff but I'm hopeful he'll be all right. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but if I have to wait until tomorrow then that's what I'll do."

Wimbledon will be without half-a-dozen players through injury and suspension, including John Hartson, Kenny Cunningham, Jason Euell, Robbie Earle and Michael Hughes, while Icelandic international Hermann Hreidarsson was set to join Ipswich today.

The Dons' hopes of replacing him with Everton's Richard Dunne have been dashed after he rejected a move, although former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas is set to be added to the squad that drew 0-0 with Tranmere last Saturday.

For the Clarets faithful the game will end a five-year wait for First Division football at Turf Moor.

"It's their day. They deserve it, our fans. They are right behind us and it's also a day for the chairman and the directors who backed me and for the players to go out and perform," Ternent added.

Burnley from: Crichton, Weller, Briscoe, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Little, Ball, Cooke, Gray, Cook, Mullin, Mellon, Armstrong, Jepson, Branch, Smith, Lee.

Wimbledon from: Davis, Kimble, Willmott, Ardley, Gayle, Andersen, Leaburn, Williams, Jupp, Francis, Agyemang, Robinson, Selley, Hawkins, Thomas, Feuer.

Burnley's youth team launch their Football League Alliance programme at home to Wigan Athletic tomorrow morning.