PAUL Weller could start his first game since August 1998 when Burnley launch their Auto Windscreens Shield campaign against holders Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium tonight.

Having recovered from three operations to cure a bowel illness, the midfield man has been back in the Burnley squad for the past couple of months.

The Clarets' surge into the Second Division play-off places has kept manager Stan Ternent's changes to a minimum.

But that policy is likely to alter tonight, when a golden goal and then penalties will be used to decide the winner if necessary, with a number of key games on the horizon.

With Saturday's FA Cup game at Derby County, a busy Christmas schedule and the need to keep players match-fit figuring in his thinking, Ternent is expected to rotate his squad.

With Paul Cook unlikely to play and risk incurring a fifth booking and an automatic suspension, at least one midfield slot will be up for grabs.

Micky Mellon may also be given a breather which could allow Lenny Johnrose and Weller to form a new-look partnership in the middle of the pitch.

"I may change it round," said Ternent ahead of the tie which will also feature the new experimental rule whereby dissent will be penalised by advancing a free-kick forward by 10 yards.

He added: "There are some good players who haven't been getting changed. I've got Tom Cowan, Paul Weller, Mark Robertson and there's Peter Swan and Paul Smith and some of the kids who played last year are making good progress. "So I've got a pretty strongish squad but sooner or later we'll get a suspension and we'll certainly run into more injuries as the season progresses."

Swan and Smith are likely to wait for tomorrow night's reserve game at home to Rotherham for their next outing following injury.

But Cowan is expected to replace Gordon Armstrong at left-back and Mark Robertson may fill the right-back berth in place of Dean West, which he did when West was rested for the 'dead' Worthington Cup second-leg against Manchester City.

Elsewhere there could be a start for Alan Lee in place of Andy Cooke, unlikely to be risked following recent calf problems.

Top-scorer Andy Payton may also be saved for Derby which could mean a call-up for Ronnie Jepson or the deserving Graham Branch.

Branch would also be able to play on the left if Glen Little or John Mullin is given a break, while Chris Brass will probably play in one of the central defensive positions as Burnley look to release the Latics' grip on the trophy.

Wigan are also set to swap things around as they have an FA Cup tie against Wolves just four days away and are also keen to protect their lead at the top of Division Two. "I have got to maximise my squad and obviously I will make changes," confirmed manager John Benson.

He added: "We had a good game against Burnley the other week. And I've no doubt it will be just as competitive this time."

Right-back Scott Green is ruled out through suspension but former Celtic winger Brian McLaughlin will start on the left flank and recent signing Jeff Peron could make his full debut.

Burnley from: Crichton, West, Armstrong, Mellon, Davis, Thomas, Little, Cook, Cooke, Payton, Mullin, Johnrose, Jepson, Brass, Branch, Lee, Robertson, Weller, Cowan.

Wigan from: Carroll, Griffiths, Sharp, McGibbon, Balmer, DeZeeuw, Martinez, O'Neill, Liddell, Haworth, Barlow, Kilford, Sheridan, Peron, McLaughlin, Morris, Mitchell, Stillie.

Burnley have sold 4,000 of their 5,000 ticket allocation for Saturday's third-round FA Cup clash at Derby County. And the Clarets have been told they will receive no further tickets for the game.

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