CHRIS Waddle will turn to some Aussie grit to help Burnley climb off the foot of the Second Division for the first time since the turn of the year.

Assuming he shakes off a minor foot injury, Mark Robertson will replace the suspended Mark Ford in midfield and make his full Football League debut against York City.

The 20-year-old Australian has made two substitute appearances for the Clarets and impressed in mid-week in his first full outing against Notts County in the Auto Windscreens Shield.

Waddle believes he is his ready to step into the heat of the relegation battle and secure the three points that could take Burnley out of the relegation zone and definitely off the bottom as Brentford and Plymouth meet at Griffin Park.

"Mark has fitted in well and done well since he came here. He is Australian and Australians are very confident in themselves," said the Burnley boss.

"We had a look at him in midfield in the reserves and the A team and I will have no problems about putting him in. He is very strong and competitive."

Waddle is expected to revert to the side that made it two league wins out of three against Southend last Saturday, with the exception of Robertson and Andy Cooke, who will partner Andy Payton up front having returned from suspension against Notts County.

Damien Matthew returns in midfield and Chris Brass and Gerry Harrison slot back into the defence. Brass is set for a fascinating tussle with York winger Paul Stephenson, who was an apprentice at Newcastle United during Waddle's days on Tyneside. "Everybody thought he was going to be a big player at Newcastle but he got injured and they brought him back a bit quick," recalled Waddle.

Stephenson since moved to Milwall and Brentford before joining York in the summer of 1995 and will be one of two wide players employed by the Minstermen tomorrow.

York have fallen away from the thick of the promotion pace with the kind of run of draws that plagued the Clarets earlier this season but which Waddle's men are starting to convert into three pointers.

Waddle added: "We are on a nice little run and we have to continue it. Earlier on we went eight or nine unbeaten but we were drawing and not winning and sometimes with draws you think you're not really getting anywhere.

"It would be nice to get off the bottom and psychologically it would be very good. A win could not only get us away from the bottom three or four but in touch with the five or six teams above them.

"If we win it could put us three points off Preston and then we go and play them next. It would put us nine or 10 points off the play-offs which shows how open it is. Bristol Rovers and Grimsby have shown what you can do if you put a run together."

Waddle has not yet confirmed what his role will be tomorrow and will mull over the substitute's spots, although Paul Smith is in contention for a place on the bench after returning for the mid-week cup win.

Burnley choose from: Beresford, Brass, Winstanley, Harrison, Moore, Weller, Little, Robertson, Cooke, Payton, Matthew. Subs from: Waddle, Blatherwick, Hoyland, Smith, Vinnicombe.

York from: Warrington, McMillan, Hall, Barrass, Jones, Murty, Bushell, Tinkler, Cresswell, Rowe, Stephenson, Bull, Greening, Poughton, Atkinson, Jordan.

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