Clarets boss Stan Ternent is likely to ring the changes for tomorrow's Auto Windscreens Shield clash at Wigan as he juggles his resources in a bid to keep challenging on all fronts.

Saturday's third-round FA Cup clash at Derby County should be able to be the sole focus on the Gawthorpe training ground this week.

But first Burnley must go to the JJB Stadium to take on Shield holders and promotion rivals Wigan.

Ternent is philosophical about the fixture pile-up, even though the Shield and the ultimate prospect of a trip to Wembley has to come down the pecking order.

"We've just got to get on with it and this is an important game," stressed the Burnley manager today, after seeing his side cement their top-six place in Division Two with a 1-0 home win over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

Ternent won't show his hand ahead of the trip to Wigan, saying only that he "may" shuffle his pack.

"I could give a few a game and then we have a reserve game on Wednesday as well," he said.

But it's likely that he will take the chance to rest a couple of key players to avoid the threat of injury and suspension.

And the tie also provides the opportunity to give some senior match action to players currently out of the starting line-up in readiness for the busy Christmas programme.

That means the likes of Tom Cowan, Chris Brass, Alan Lee, Graham Branch, Paul Weller, Ronnie Jepson, Lenny Johnrose and Mark Robertson could all come into his thinking. Jepson, Branch and Johnrose all came off the bench on Saturday to help the Clarets extend their remarkable home record to eight wins in 10 games thanks to Andy Payton's 10th goal of the season and a missed penalty from Wycombe's Sean Devine.

Ternent admitted his side hadn't been at their best throughout the game but took satisfaction from banking another three points.

He said: "We set off very well and then they frustrated us but all credit to the players again. They are the main people at this football club.

"They kept at it and we got our just rewards in the end, although we did have a break with the penalty, which I felt was outside the box.

"We got away with it and you need a little break. The players showed a lot of resilience and resolve without playing to the best of their abilities , although credit obviously to Wycombe for that.

"But Payts came up with the winner again and it was a valuable three points for us."

Ternent added: "It (the missed penalty) certainly spurred the crowd on. We got that break and we went on from there and we weren't in any trouble after that. In fact the keeper made a fantastic save from Lenny Johnrose and we could have had another goal or two. "We created numerous chances but it just wouldn't go in for us. Without playing as well as we can we won and got the three points.

"So it's the sign of a good team that can win when they're not on top form.

"The position we are in brings it's own pressures. We are expected to win at home. Sometimes it's not as easy as that but I thought the crowd were patient, they were very good and got behind the lads and without playing as well as we can we won, so I'm sure they're happy with that."

Former Clarets midfielder Damian Matthew has been forced to hang up his boots because of injury. The 29-year-old has retired from the game because of a back problem, having made just one League appearance for Northampton Town following his move from Turf Moor in July, 1998.

Matthew made 68 appearances in two years with Burnley, following a £65,000 move from Crystal Palace.

Burnley's scheduled youth team game at Oldham Athletic on Saturday morning was postponed.

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