MANCHESTER City boss Joe Royle has warned his side to beware of a Burnley backlash when the two sides clash in the Worthington Cup at Maine Road tonight, writes Pete Oliver.

The Clarets were trounced 6-0 by City back in March on a black night at Turf Moor.

And Royle is anxious to ensure that his City side aren't on the receiving end of a Burnley revenge mission in the opening leg of the first-round tie (kick-off 7.45).

"It will be a good local derby," Royle said.

"Burnley will be up for revenge because we beat them 6-0 at their place last season so they won't need much motivating.

"It's a big chance for us in the cup and we are looking to have a good cup run."

However, Ternent has played down the relevance of the last League meeting which marked a turning point in Burnley's fortunes.

"That's history and won't have any bearing. It's not an issue. Of the team that got turned over, a lot won't be playing," said the Burnley boss, whose revamped side has lost just once in 13 games since then.

And Ternent is more concerned with guaging the progress of his current side, and trying to win a first cup-tie as Clarets manager.

He said: "It goes without saying that you don't get promoted without being a good side.

"It will be a good test for us to see how far we've come.

"With quite a lot of new players it can take a little while to gel. "But financially it's very important for us as well and we'd like to make progress."

To do so, however, he acknowledged that Burnley will have to upset the odds.

Ternent added: "It's handy for the supporters, it's not half-way round the world, and if it's a pretty good game and a tightish score it will set it up nicely for the second leg.

"We will start as underdogs and not expected to win, but who knows?

"They are a good side but I'd like to think we we have a reasonable squad now."

While Ternent insists that March's Turf Moor debacle is a closed chapter, those that did play in it will have some personal pride to restore.

Goalkeeper Paul Crichton is among them, although he was powerless to prevent City's second-half onslaught when Burnley hit their lowest ebb.

"I think we owe them one after that 6-0 drubbing. It hurt a little bit so it would be nice to get over there and get a result," he said.

That defeat had a galvanising effect on and off the field for Burnley with chairman Barry Kilby backing his manager to sign the calibre of players like Paul Cook, Tom Cowan, Alan Lee, Mitchell Thomas, Dean West and John Mullin.

And the strength in depth in Burnley's squad means that the Clarets will expect success in the League and to mount a challenge in at least one of the cup competitions.

"Like any season there's a high expectation of the side - especially with the signings the gaffer's made - which people have a right to have and hopefully we can go out and prove that," said Andy Cooke, who scored a cracker when Burnley drew 2-2 at Maine Road last October.

"Hopefully I can get another goal tonight. It's always great to play in big games like that," added the striker, who opened his account for the new campaign with the Clarets equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Wycombe on Saturday.

Cooke got a bang on the knee at Adams Park but is likely to play, while Ternent will also make a check on John Mullin's damaged toe before naming his starting line-up.

City add Danny Tiatto to their squad as loan signing Danny Granville is out injured.

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

City from: Weaver, Edghill, Crooks, Wiekens, Morrison, Horlock, Cooke, Whitley, Dickov, Goater, Kennedy, Taylor, Allsopp, Wright, Bishop, Tiatto.

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