JOINT Millwall manager Alan McLeary believes Burnley will stay the pace as promotion challengers.

And he will warn his players to be wary of a claret and blue backlash as the Lions bid to step up their own challenge when the two sides clash at the New Den tomorrow.

McLeary knows Burnley will be smarting after last Sunday's first home defeat of the season to Scunthorpe and expects Stan Ternent's men to come out with all guns blazing in their bid to get back to winning ways.

McLeary said: "We had Steve Gritt up there in person doing a report for us and as most people will have done we watched the game on Sky.

"We had a good look at them and we'd had them watched already so we know a fair bit about them.

"But whether that result on Sunday works in our favour remains to be seen."

He added: "They will be looking to bounce back in a positive manner.

"They will probably think they could have done better on Sunday and it will be a tough game.

"They are one of the fancied sides who will be up there at the end of the season. "They have had a big turnover of players and they will be looking to push on, starting with us on Saturday."

Milwall are well equipped, however, to provide Burnley with a stern test.

After a sluggish start to the season when they didn't win in their first five games, the Lions have won three of their last four and are now 14th in the table with a game or two in hand on most of the sides above them.

They also have a powerful-looking squad which is set to welcome back a couple of players from international duty.

Canadian Marc Bircham has been one of Millwall's most consistent performers this season but after a 3-1 win at Oxford last Saturday, when Bobby Bowry played well in central midfield, he may have to settle for a place on the bench alongside Irish under-21 striker Richard Sadlier.

And with back-to-back home games coming up against Burnley and then Preston on Tuesday night, the Londoners are looking to close in on the leading pack.

The Lions are unbeaten in their Den and with Burnley the next to test that record, McLeary said: "We need to counteract them, not be intimidated and impose ourselves on them and not worry too much about them.

"We are in a positive frame of mind and looking to win both games. We couldn't have asked for two tougher games but we have played some decent football of late and hopefully we can continue that."

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