BURNLEY go Lion hunting tonight with manager Steve Cotterill insisting his side will always be big game underdogs.

A victory over rock-bottom Millwall at Turf Moor tonight could see the Clarets roar into the top ten in the Championship for only the second time this year.

And Cotterill put that feat into context by insisting Burnley face a constant battle to stay among the Football League's elite.

"Who are we to expect to win every game?" insisted Cotterill.

"The chances are Millwall have got more money than us, so every time we come up against someone they've got more money than us.

"That means normally a bigger squad and maybe better facilities, so we've always got to be the challenger as long as we're in the Championship.

"If the fans sit and wait in their seats and hope it will be a straightforward victory, the chances are it will be a long night.

"It's a very, very difficult game, and we mustn't underestimate Millwall.

"They've still got some very good players left there, and the big thing is that our crowd has to exactly the same as they were against Ipswich, not Brighton."

Millwall have thrown down the gauntlet to Burnley with a creditable set of results away from home that contrasts their lowly league position. A 0-0 draw at Plymouth Argyle on Sunday was their seventh successive road trip without defeat - five in the Championship and two Carling Cup wins.

And Cotterill insists Burnley will not be the next hosts to take Millwall lightly.

He added: "We're expected to win because of Millwall's position in the table, but we haven't taken anyone lightly and we won't.

"They're unbeaten in five away games in the league and all the games they have won have been away from home.

"So if we scrutinise Millwall's form, this is a tough game for us. But a few wins has helped us make headway in the table and that's four in six games now, so I'm pleased with my lads at the moment.

"They are playing some good football, they are confident and to be fair they've done very well.

"There hasn't been too many times really that I haven't been happy with them. But we've cut those individual errors out now and hopefully for good."

Burnley go into tonight's game with influential defender John McGreal again a doubt while Graham Branch, who has missed four games with a calf problem, definitely misses out.

The utility man will serve the second of a two-match ban after being found guilty of abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting behaviour directed towards Derby supporters during the clash at Turf Moor in August.