CHRIS Waddle was today sweating on the fitness of centre-forward Andy Cooke before the mighty derby clash with Lancashire rivals Preston North End.

But the early indications are that Cooke could be back in the frame for tomorrow's Lancashire joust as Waddle considers his selection options for the Turf Moor contest.

Cooke missed the midweek Coca-Cola Cup defeat to Stoke City with a back injury but today Waddle confirmed: "He has a reasonable chance of making it and that would be a terrific boost for us.

"This is a massive game for Burnley and we are all so determined to go out and get the right result.

"We just need to get the ball rolling. The important thing, though, is for everybody to stick together if we are going to achieve success.

"There should be more than 15,000 people inside Turf Moor tomorrow and if that doesn't lift everybody then nothing will."

Lee Howey, who deputised as an emergency striker in midweek, is also expected to be fit after suffering an ankle injury in the tie.

But there was a slight doubt over striker Paul Barnes who injured a hamstring in training today.

"He is a little bit touch and go still, but we will give him every opportunity.

"Lee is the sort of player who will go through brick walls for you and we will need that tomorrow," said Waddle.

Waddle is desperate to get the show on the road with Burnley's first league win under his stewardship.

He added: "Preston will be a hard game, regardless of it being a local derby.

"They have spent a lot of money, and started quite well in the league.

"However, they've had a few dodgy results recently and it may be a good time to play them.

"But they will think that about us. Certainly, if we play like we did in the first half against Stoke, we will give Preston a hard game.

"Some of the stuff we played in the first half was excellent.

"But if we play like we did after half-time then we will deserve all the crticism going. "I genuinely feel for the players because they are giving their all and not getting the rub of the green.

"But that's life and the only people who can change that is them."

Preston will have ex-Clarets Gary Parkinson and Kurt Nogan in their ranks.

Parkinson will definitely feature in the starting line-up but Nogan may have to be content with a place on the substitutes bench after he was dropped from the midweek Coca-Cola Cup defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

Preston manager Gary Peters said: "I've told my players to forget Blackburn. That was fantasy land stuff.

"This is our real local derby when we return to the bread and butter of Division Two and the real world.

"We've got to forget Blackburn and move on. We can't dwell on that.

"Tomorrow's game at Turf Moor has always been the more important of the two games for me and I know my players will be in the right farme of mind for it."

Clarets assistant manager Glen Roeder ran the rule over Preston at Ewood. He said: "It wasn't that Preston were awful it was more that Blackburn Rovers were brilliant. Their finishing was out of this world.

"We know what Preston can do and they will give us a very tough contest."

Burnley from: Beresford, Weller, Brass, Williams, Blatherwick, Moore, Matthew, Ford, Howey, Barnes, Eyres, Waddle, Little, Huxford, Cooke.

Preston North End from: Moilanen, Parkinson, Kidd, Jackson, Barrick, Cartwright, Darby, Rankine, Gregan, Ashcroft, Reeves, Macken, Nogan, Moyes, Murdock, Atkinson, Lucas (GK).

Burnley's B team host Tranmere Rovers B at Gawthorpe (11.00). The A team go to Preston.

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