PAUL Weller continues to mount a strong challenge for a place in Stan Ternent's first-team plans as he looks to put almost two years of misery behind him.

Weller won the sponsor's man-of-the-match award for his performance against Manchester City on Wednesday night.

And he's likely to get another chance to impress at Rochdale tonight (kick-off 7.30) with Glen Little struggling to be fit to claim the right-sided role.

Little has been troubled by a groin strain and has missed a couple of days' training this week.

In his absence, Weller seized his chance and after barely starting a game in the past two seasons following major stomach surgery he is now a genuine candidate for a place in Ternent's starting line-up for the start of the new campagn.

"I've always rated him highly. He's been through a lot but he's doing very well," said Ternent, who brought Weller back into the fold after the 25-year-old was briefly put on the transfer list towards the back end of last season.

The trip to Rochdale will be Burnley's last public work-out before the curtain-raiser at Bolton and Ternent may want to field as near to his preferred starting line-up as possible, although Andy Payton isn't fit for selection.

The manager will therefore hope that Kevin Ball will be fit to play after taking a knock on the head against City.

"I would say so but we'll just have to wait and see," Ternent added.

Rochdale have just returned from a tour of Scotland and tonight's game will be the first at the new-look Spotland following the development of a new all-seater stand opposite the main stand.

The Third Division club are likely to hand home debuts to new signings Simon Davies from Macclesfield and Lee Todd from Bradford, as well as Simon Coleman and Paul Ware who arrived earlier in pre-season.

Clarets old boys Graham Lancashire and Mark Monington are expected to line up against their former club.

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