BURNLEY could be virtually safe from relegation tomorrow night, but manager Stan Ternent is anxious to point out that his side's trip to Stoke City is far from make-or-break.

A win at the Britannia Stadium would take the Clarets to Ternent's 50-point safety target with three games to go to provide themselves with the safety net of another point or two.

But with plenty of yardage left in the relegation race, Ternent is understandably keen to stress that not everything hinges on the outcome at Stoke.

"We have just got to get past 50 points, be it tomorrow or in the next three games.

"If it has to go to then (the last day) fine, it doesn't bother me. They will get them, although obviously I would prefer to do it tomorrow," he said.

And the Burnley boss won't allow himself to think of the prospect of safety by 5pm tomorrow.

"That doesn't come into the equation. It's another game, another day at the office, although we need to win it because we are running out of games," he added. Ternent's outward caution is understandable because although it would be a setback, defeat tomorrow can't be allowed to be seen as the end of the world for the Clarets survival hopes.

Should Burnley's unbeaten seven-match run come to an end their destiny is still almost certain to remain in their own hands.

That said, the Clarets would hope to avoid the lottery of a last-day decider at Northampton Town, who may need the points to avoid the drop themselves.

And current form suggests Burnley, with only one defeat in nine away games, could ease the pressure by winning at out-of-sorts Stoke.

The Clarets will be lifted by the return of Andy Payton and Glen Little. Top-scorer Payton missed last Saturday's goalless draw with Bournemouth because of a thigh injury but is expected to be reunited with Andy Cooke in attack.

Payton needs one more goal to hit the 20-mark in the League, while Stoke-born Cooke, looking forward to a return to the Potteries, is also desperate to get back on the scoresheet to confirm his complete rehabilitation following an appendix operation.

Ternent will be delighted to have two key players back, although he stressed "match-winners can come at either end" in recognition of the improvement shown by a defence which is looking for a hat-trick of clean sheets tomorrow. Seventh-placed Stoke can still sneak into the play-offs, although their chances looks to have gone thanks to a run of six defeats in nine home games.

City's collapse in the second half of the season suggests that this might represent Burnley's best chance of earning three points in their run-in.

But with Brian Little's side having to win to retain any chance of going up, Ternent won't entertain that idea.

"I don't see that any will be easier or harder. They will all be hard but we have to try and win all four.

"We could get to 59 points and there's no reason why not," he insisted.

Defender Steve Davis is also expecting a stern examination but hopes that that recent factors will weigh in Burnley's favour.

"It will be a difficult game. But they are not having the best of times at home so hopefully with our confidence we can grab a result," he said.

Burnley from: Crichton, Pickering, Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Brass, Little, Cook, Armstrong, Cooke, Payton, Johnrose, Branch, Reid, Jepson, Eastwood.

Stoke from: Muggleton, Robinson, Small, Sigurdsson, Mohan, Wallace, Keen, G Kavanagh, Thorne, Lightbourne, Oldfield, Crowe, Forsyth, J Kavanagh, Petty.

Burnley 'A' are at home to Wrexham in the Lancashire League tomorrow morning (kick-off 11.00), while the under-18s entertain Halifax Town at the same time.

Rossendale Clarets have spaces available for tomorrow's match. For Ring Bev on 01706 224924.

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