WOLVES boss Mick McCarthy says the visit of in-form Burnley could inspire his side to victory at Molineux today.

Wolves are currently four points clear at the top of the Championship and have won seven of their eight home matches this season.

A home game against the Clarets, who are up to fourth after just one defeat in 14, is starting to look like one of the trickier fixtures this season but, perhaps surprisingly, McCarthy says he would rather face Burnley than a mid-table team.

“It suits us fine,” said the ex-Republic of Ireland manager.

“I hate teams coming to Molineux with nothing to play for, who make you think they’re going to come and roll over and have their bellies tickled.

“I hate it when teams give it this ‘woe is us’ and ‘Wolves is a hard place to play’.

“I’d much rather have teams coming here playing well to inspire us and inspire our crowd, and teams that have just as much to lose as us.

“Burnley want to stay in the top six and they want to be contenders for promotion.

“The bigger the challenge, the better it is for us.”

And McCarthy is well aware of the threats that Burnley will pose to his defence when they step out at Molineux today.

He said: “They’re playing very well and they’ve had a great run of results.

“Chris Eagles is playing well and Robbie Blake is always a threat.

“Teams that are successful are teams that are solid and well-organised but then you’ve also got to have a goal threat or something different – and Burnley have."”

The match will see Wolves winger Carlos Edwards, on loan from Sunderland, come up against the Clarets for the first time since he scored a 25-yard blockbuster for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light in April 2007.

It was a goal that gave Sunderland a 3-2 win and sealed promotion for Roy Keane’s men.

“I was man of the match and scored the winner – it was a cracker from about 25 yards,” said Edwards.

“I rate that goal as the best of my career so far, so I don’t think Burnley will be giving me any shooting opportunities today!

“To score a goal like that at the Stadium of Light with over 40,000 there and the game live on television was something really special.

“The result dampened their spirits because it really hit their chances of reaching the play-offs.”