Stockport County v Burnley - Tony Dewhurst's big match preview

WHEN the Burnley players file out of the Edgeley Park dressing room door at Stockport tomorrow they will give a momentary glance to the notice nailed to the door.

In black marker pen, the names of four venues will be emblazoned across a giant sheet of white paper.

Maine Road, Molineux, Bramall Lane and the Riverside Stadium. A reminder, if they need it, of the promised land as Burnley launch their final drive for the Second Division play-offs.

"I can't think of a bigger incentive for a professional footballer to get out of this division and to play at those places next season," observed manager Adrian Heath.

"They shouldn't need any motivating when they weigh up the chances of playing at the likes of Wolves, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough or even Everton!

"That would be an unbelievable prospect for everybody connected with Burnley. Promotion is out there for the players if they want it.

"We've got five cup finals between now and May 3 and tomorrow is a huge game for us. I know, deep down, though, that we can get in the play-offs and go right through to Wembley."

Burnley will probably need a minimum of nine more points - three wins - to be confident of making the play-offs.

That would ensure the Clarets 72 points and a powerful claim for a top six place.

Stockport, themselves, appear poised for an automatic promotion assault in a marathon season which has seen County involved in 59 senior games, including 18 cup ties. They remain unbeaten in the League since February and have lost only twice at home this season.

"They've had a tremendous nine months and, despite the number of fixtures they've had, they are not showing any signs of cracking up," added Heath.

"Stockport are currently the form team in the division but I know we have the personnel to go there and win.

"When we are right and firing on all cylinders then there are not many teams in this division who can live with us.

"It is always a fierce encounter with our friends from Edgeley Park but we are going there with a lot of confidence and self-belief. I just sense that we can win."

Yet, it promises to be a curious end of season sequence for the Clarets. Following the derby at Stockport, the Clarets go to Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday, a team scrapping for their Second Division status.

Then already relegated Rotherham visit Turf Moor and doomed Notts County provide the opposition at Meadow Lane a week later.

The campaign winds up against Watford on the final day of the season - a fixture which increasingly looks like deciding the play-off fate of the two clubs. On the evidence of this season, though, Notts County, Wycombe and Rotherham could provide the greatest danger for the Clarets.

Burnley have turned in their most impoverished performances against the Division's inferior opposition.

Shrewsbury was a case in point while the Clarets have fallen victim to a York City double, lost 3-2 at Peterborough, and produced arguably their worst performance of the season, a 1-0 defeat at Rotherham last October.

"That is something we have to be on our guard against," conceded the manager.

"The Wycombe game could prove a harder game than Stockport. Every fixture is taking on so much significance . Ultimately, our destiny is in our hands if we get the right results - starting at Stockport!"

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