DAVID Eyres should be back in circulation as Burnley take on Peterborough United at Turf Moor tomorrow in what manager Adrian Heath admits is a crunch Second Division clash.

Suffering from a "bug", the winger has been under orders to keep clear of the rest of the squad but the manager hopes he will be available again to face the Posh.

Peterborough are not that much better off than Burnley in the scramble to stay away from the drop zone.

And Heath believes the time has come to take a positive step forward.

"We are all in the same boat down there at the moment," he said.

"Every week it seems we are all letting each other off the hook.

"The teams who will get out of trouble are the ones who manage to string a couple of wins together."

Four points in front of Burnley, from two more games, Peterborough are also under pressure with their manager claiming they are far from safe.

"As bad as our position is, they will be fully aware that, come Saturday night, we could be right behind them," said Heath.

"There's a lot at stake tomorrow and we are looking forward to turning in another performance as good as the one at Brighton.

"I know I have been critical of the players at times but if you can take anything positive from a defeat, then you could from our performance on Tuesday, if not the result."

"We had two or three shots cleared off the line, a goal disallowed and had good claims for a penalty."

Heath's team plans will hinge partly on the fitness of Eyres.

"Hopefully, he should be back in the picture," said the manager.

"He had a bit of a bug in midweek and didn't feel up to playing.

"We told him to stay away but we are hoping to have him available tomorrow and that there will not be any other late problems.

"Then we will take it from there."

The main decision could be whether to alter the 4-5-1 formation he adopted at Brighton, when Kurt Nogan was the lone striker. Especially if Eyres is fit, Burnley may be looking to get at Peterborough down the flanks and could well revert to having two strikers in the side.

That could mean a recall for loan man Paul Mahorn, who went on as a substitute at Brighton only to see a goal disallowed.

Burnley are expected to choose their starting line-up from: Russell, Harrison, Bishop, Swan, Winstanley, Joyce, Robinson, Thompson, Harper, Nogan, Smith, Mahorn, Weller, Parkinson, Eyres.

One man they won't have to face is striker Carl Griffiths, Peterborough's record signing at £225,000. The former Shrewsbury and Manchester City player - a one-time Turf Moor target - is injured AND suspended.

Peterborough are expected to play with a sweeper and three strikers.

Their likely team is: Sheffield, Williams, Foran, Heald, Clark, Spearing, Ebdon, Le Bihan, Power, Charlery, Farrell.

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