CLARETS skipper Steve Davis is almost certain to be out of action for the fourth successive game when Burnley take on Derby County at the weekend.

And with only 15 players fit and available for the trip to Pride Park at the weekend Stan Ternent is not ready to risk any of his senior players in the reserves against Sheffield United tonight.

"Unless Steve Davis makes a miraculous recovery I have only got 15 players available for Saturday," he explained this morning. "But there is absolutely no point in pushing him because we could end up back at square one."

Davis has been out since damaging his calf in a challenge with Paul Ince at Wolves but he is far from being the only player unavailable to Ternent.

"I have got Paul Cook suspended, Gordon Armstrong and Brad Maylett are also injured and both Dimitri Papadopoulos and Gareth Taylor are away on international duty," he explained.

"Ideally there are quite a few players I would like to give a run out for the reserves tonight but I just can't afford to take the risk."

But out of adversity he is hoping that he will see his young players shine against the Blades and he said: "There is going to be a place for one of them on the bench on Saturday.

"This is their chance to push themselves forward and show what they can do.

"Sometimes needs must and these situations happen from time to time but it is good for the young players to be playing in the reserves, it is a good experience for them.

"The likes of Earl Davis, Andrew Leeson, Andrew Waine, Mark Rasmussen and Joel Pilkington, they will all have their chance again tonight so it will be interesting for me to watch."

The problem for Ternent is that he would have liked to include those members of his squad who have not played much first team football this season.

Players like Robbie Blake, Graham Branch, Andy Payton and Ian Moore would all benefit from a match but all will be needed on Saturday and so no chances can be taken.

The strikers are all desperate to have a part to play against Derby at the weekend, knowing they have the chance to show they are the answer to the goalscoring problem that has added to the problems at the start of the season.

With Taylor and Papadopoulos away, at least one of them will be in the firing line and aiming to score the first goal since Lee Briscoe netted against Brighton in stoppage time on the first day of the season.

Blake and Payton did play for the reserves at Wolves last week, the former netting the second goal in a 2-0 win, but Ternent is resigned to the fact that he will have to wrap his players in cotton wool until the weekend.

Tonight's game kicks off at 7pm and, as always, all are welcome at Turf Moor.

Burnley Reserves (from): Salisbury, Leeson, E Davis, Eves, Pitham, Carter, Scott, Rasmussen, Pilkington, Waine, O'Neill, Chaplow, Richardson, Blakey, Townsend.