BURNLEY hit the cup trail tomorrow night buoyed up by a second successive Nationwide League success.

A hard-earned 3-2 win over Wimbledon in their opening match at Turf Moor has lifted the Clarets to third in the embryonic Division One table, but tomorrow night's home Worthington Cup clash promises to be a different kind of test for Burnley.

They face newcomers Rushden and Diamonds who ended their first seven days in the Nationwide League leading the Division Three table on Friday night.

Saturday's results saw last season's Conference champions take a few steps back down the ladder, but the Clarets are not about to take the Nene Park side lightly.

"It will be a totally different type of game," said Clarets defender Gordon Armstrong, who netted the all important third goal against the Dons

"They were a good side in the Conference and they have started well this season.

"But our lads will be up for it and we don't fear anyone on our own ground."

Burnley boss Stan Ternent will be able to welcome back at least two players for tomorrow's meeting with Brian Talbot's side, and maybe even more.

Midfielder Kevin Ball is able to return after serving a two-match ban and striker Dimitrious Papadopoulos, signed in the close season from Greek side Akratitos, is available after serving with Greece under-21s in Belarus last week.

And two others may come into the frame with defender Mitchell Thomas, who has missed the start of the season with a groin strain, and midfielder Paul Weller, who sustained a hamstring strain in the 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday eight days ago, having their progress monitored.

Ternent has been delighted with his side's start to the League season and feels that his side have prospered without these players is proof that the Burnley squad is taking shape.

"We have a 100 per cent record in the League, so that's a good start," said Ternent.

"The players are getting better all the time and they are also beginning to reap the rewards that come with it, but we have the Worthington Cup game to look to now and once again it is all hands to the pump.

"We have been without Dimitrious Papdopoulos, who wasn't ready for the Wimbledon game after travelling from England to Athens and then out to Russia last week.

"Kevin Ball was suspended, Paul Weller had a hamstring and all in all we have had five or six players missing.

"But this is why we have to have a squad that has depth, you cannot work with 16 or 17 players any more given the number of games we play, and the way we have played in the first two games shows we are getting a good squad together."

Rushden come to Turf Moor having started their life as a Football League club with a win at York City, courtesy of a Warren Patmore goal, on the opening day and their first game at Nene Park brought a 0-0 stalemate with Lincoln City.

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