DEAN West faces a battle with Chris Brass to fill the Clarets' right-back slot for tomorrow's derby showdown with Blackpool at Turf Moor (kick-off 1pm).

Barring a late setback in training today, West will be fit to return to the Burnley squad.

And that will leave manager Stan Ternent with a tough choice to make.

"It looks like if there's no reaction Westy will be all right," confirmed the Burnley boss, who gave a mixed medical report ahead of today's final work-out.

"Gordon Arsmtrong trained yesterday and he was fine.

"Lenny Johnrose trained with the physio so I'll know about that today or even tomorrow, I'll have to wait for that.

"But Paul Smith's a 'no' and Tommy Cowans is not right," added Ternent, who is without Mark Robertson due to international duty.

Armstrong's recovery from an Achilles tendon injury removes any worries over the left-back slot.

But it's not as clear-cut on the other flank.

West was an ever-present in the League this season until a hamstring strain forced him out of Burnley's last two games.

Brass then took his chance after a patient wait and did little wrong against Wrexham or Luton.

But if that's enough to extend his run in the side depends whether Ternent decides to go with his specialist full-back and not ease West back via the bench. Johnrose can expect to be among the substitutes if he is passed fit following a groin strain as Burnley look to stay with the pace at the top of the table against an in-form Blackpool side which is showing signs of recovering from a disastrous start to the season.

"If we play to our capabilities then we'll be a handful for anyone," stressed Ternent.

"The lads have been playing really well and Luton last Saturday was no exception. We played well enough there but we didn't get the result I felt we may have done.

"Sunday's a new game. We need to win, they need to win and it's a derby match so it's got all the makings of being a good day."

The visitors, unbeaten in four games but still in the relegation zone, are expected to recall on-loan winger David Lee on the right wing.

Lee has been a major factor in Blackpool's climb away from the bottom and Nigel Worthington could soon make his move from Wigan a permanent one.

If Lee returns, there could be a four-way fight for the right-back slot involving Phil Robinson, Marvin Bryan, Andy Couzens and David Bardsley.

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

Blackpool from: Caig, Robinson, Bryan, Hills, Carlisle, Hughes, Clarkson, Bushell, Lee, Coid, Durnin, Murphy, Nowland, Forsyth, Bent, Couzens, Beesley, Bardsley.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.