OWEN Coyle has told his players not to worry about the added pressure that Burnley may now face as a top six side.

The Clarets were not among the favourites for promotion at the start of the season and, even during a run of two defeats in 18 games that has lifted them to fourth place in the Championship, they have been underdogs against the likes of Birmingham, Reading and Wolves as well as in Carling Cup ties against Fulham and Chelsea.

But Coyle’s side will be heavy favourites when they host bottom club Doncaster at Turf Moor tomorrow at 3pm – just two days before Monday’s televised trip to Barnsley.

The Clarets may have to deal with raised expectations as they bid to maintain their play-off position with games against sides below them in the table, but Coyle is not worrying about such pressures.

And he has urged his players to do likewise – particularly as he regards the Doncaster clash as the ‘toughest game of the season’ after Sean O’Driscoll’s men ended a 12-match winless run last week.

He said: “Whether there’s pressure or there’s no pressure, it’s a game of football that you have to go and be at your best, it’s as simple as that. That’s all we ask of them.

“We don’t say because you’re third, fourth, eighth or 10th, it doesn’t matter. We’re going out to win each and every game.

“I don’t know who’s perceived us to be underdogs, we were certainly underdogs at Chelsea but the nature of the Championship means that anyone can win games home or away.

“Doncaster showed that last week by beating Ipswich, so we have to make sure that we get to the standards we set before and if we do that then we have a real chance of winning three points.

“If people perceive Doncaster to be struggling then they’re not really paying attention to the league because they’ve been very unfortunate with a lot of results.

“I would have to stress that although we’ve played Wolves, Chelsea and QPR away, Doncaster Rovers at home will be a tougher game than any of the three for a variety of reasons.”

Chris Eagles has returned to training and is expected to start after being stretchered off last week at QPR with a twisted ankle.

The Clarets were yesterday waiting for news on Michael Duff, who picked up a knock playing for Northern Ireland on Wednesday, while Christian Kalvenes is nearing fitness but is not ready to return and Remco van der Schaaf has only just returned to training following a virus.

Steven Caldwell is available again after suspension but has missed training this week with a knock. If Duff, Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle are all available, Coyle may have the options of switching Graham Alexander back into midfield.

The Clarets will come up against another side who like to play passing football and Coyle says they will try to outdo Doncaster rather than employ a more physical approach, which has been the Yorkshire side’s weakness this season.

“We’ll be very respectful of Doncaster but we’ll look to try to impose our game,” said the boss.

“Whether it’s Doncaster at home or Chelsea away, we still look to try to do the same things in each and every game – and that’s get the ball down, pass and move and be entertaining.”

Burnley midfielder Kevin McDonald is one booking away from collecting a one-match ban for five yellow cards. A ban would come into force seven days after his fifth booking.