BURNLEY will do battle with First Division Stoke City in the second round of the Coca-Cola Cup.

The Clarets were paired against the Potteries side when the draw was made today - and Burnley will have home advantage before the second leg joust at Stoke's new £14 million Britannia Stadium a week later.

The tie means a return to Turf Moor for Paul Stewart who had a controversial loan spell with Burnley during the 1994-95 First Division season.

Player-manager Chris Waddle said: "It is a tasty tie for us and one that should attract a couple of big attendances.

"The tie gives us a good chance of making progress in the competition but it will also be a very strong test for us.

"We would have preferred one of the Premiership big guns, but this is an attractive draw."

The ties will be played in the weeks beginning September the 15 and 22 of September.

Meanwhile, Burnley have snuffed out Leicester City's interest in Clarets goalkeeper Marlon Beresford. The Coca-Cola Cup holders have shown keen interest in Burnley's first choice and Waddle confirmed: "Their coach, John Robertson, telephoned me and asked about Marlon's progress.

"He asked me: 'How is Marlon Beresford playing.'

"I just told him he is playing very well. It was just a general enquiry, the sort you get every week.

"I can honestly and categorically say there was no bid from them for Marlon.

"They had watched him on three or four occasions and wanted Marlon as number two to Kasey Keller.

"The next day Leicester went out and signed the French goalkeeper.

"In my eyes Marlon Beresford is a better goalkeeper than Kasey Keller. It was pointless telling the lad because there was no bid whatsoever from Leicester." Beresford has made a sensational start to Burnley's new Second Division season and news of Leicester's interest will not arrive as a shock to Burnley supporters who rate their goalkeeper as one of the finest in the Nationwide League.

Beresford is now in his sixth season at Turf Moor and was linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer of 1994, following Burnley's promotion to Division One.

And if Burnley were tempted to sell in the future, his transfer would be sure to command a fee of close to £1 million.

Meanwhile, midfielder Mark Ford is a doubtful starter for the weekend's home fixture against Bristol Rovers at Turf Moor.

Ford missed Tuesday's Coca-Cola Cup triumph over Linocln City with a groin strain and could be out of action for a fortnight

Waddle added: "Mark will just have to rest up and we should know more tomorrow. He probably only has a 60-40 chance of making it."

The Football Association today confirmed that skipper David Eyres will miss this weekend's action after he was served with a one match ban following his red card against Gillingham.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.