STEVE Cotterill is looking for more of a cutting edge when Burnley step up their pre-season preparations at Accrington Stanley tonight.

The Clarets boss is adamant that boosting fitness levels is his primary concern at this stage of the season.

However, with a clean sheet already on the board in last weekend's curtain raiser at Cheltenham, goals and a victory are the next targets as his new-look squad begins to bed in at Turf Moor.

Cotterill said: "Accrington will be every bit as tough as Cheltenham because they are further down the line in their games. Tonight will be no more than it was there in terms of a fitness exercise, but hopefully we will be a bit sharper than we were the other day.

"I think a few of the boys were disappointed with themselves last Saturday and they needn't be.

"It is the first game of the (Championship) season we are aiming for and yet we could still have beaten Cheltenham 4-0 because of the chances we created, without playing well. On another day, those sort of chances will go in."

Defender Michael Duff, who was made captain on his return to former club Cheltenham last Saturday, added: "This is another chance to go out and get your fitness, but you also want to get a little bit better with the ball, get a few moves going and get comfortable with each other.

"We haven't done much team play either, so this is another precious opportunity to get to know everyone."

Cotterill has named the same 17 players for tonight's clash at the Interlink Express Stadium (kick off 7.45pm), although several changes are expected as the Clarets boss looks to ensure his squad build up their match fitness.

Striker Kyle Lafferty and the versatile Chris McCann, both second year apprentices, could therefore get a further chance to impress after making their first team debuts as substitutes at Whaddon Road.

Cotterill explained: "It will be the same squad, so we will have the young boys, Kyle and Chris, with us again. The one thing that has got those two lads into the squad is that they have come back bigger.

"They obviously have their natural growth, but they do look as if they have gone away and worked through their summer and this should be an incentive."

A crowd of around 3,000 is expected at Stanley, with many from Burnley getting their first glimpse of the five summer signings in action.

Cotterill said: "We had a fantastic turn out at Cheltenham but that's what our fans are like. They follow us everywhere and they are known in the game for being that supportive.

"I have been there nearly 14 months now and they continue to back us to the hilt, despite knowing we are up against it.

"Once again we are relegation favourites this season, but that's fine by us. We will just crack on and look to prove the bookies wrong again."