Clarets new boy Ian Cox is preparing himself for whatever the Bournemouth fans may have in store for him tomorrow as he bids to make sure another promotion tilt doesn't slip away.

Cox heads back to Dean Court just over a week after moving to Turf Moor in a £500,000 deal as Burnley look to keep up the pressure on the Second Division pacesetters.

The former Cherries' skipper is almost certain to get a warm welcome back after nearly four years' outstanding service on the south coast.

However, he admits it will be a strange experience returning so quickly and stressed the need to focus on helping the Clarets pick up the points.

He said: "It's going to be weird. It's going to be a complete change for me after three or four years coming out of the other changing room and leading the team out and so forth.

"Now wearing a different strip it's going to feel a bit weird, especially going back so soon.

"But it's something I have just got to get my head around and concentrate on the job in hand."

Anticipating the greeting he will get, Cox added: "You can never really tell but as a player you would like to think if you go back to your former club, especially if you thought you've done reasonably well, you will get a half-decent reception.

"But you can never really tell and if it does go the way I don't really want it to I've got to be strong enough to get on with the job in hand."

Cox was an integral part of Bournemouth's improvement over the past couple of seasons and he knows as well as anyone their threat to Burnley's hopes of a first away league win since October. He picked out Mark Stein and Steve Robinson as men to watch and added: "They spend a hell of a lot of time concentrating on set-pieces so we will have to be on our mettle there.

"They do pass the ball a lot and when they are on their game they open teams up so we've got to make sure we close them down and deny them the opportunity to carve us open."

However, Cox believes Burnley are equipped to get the result they want and capitalise on last Saturday's win over leaders Bristol Rovers, when the central defender enjoyed an excellent debut.

"The boys here are unbelievable really. The team spirit and the unity I have seen just in this week has been really good and that can only bear fruit over the next 18 games as the finishing line comes closer.

"It's important we do get something down at Bournemouth," he said.

The Clarets need to start turning some of their draws into wins away from home to challenge for an automatic promotion place.

First though they need to cement a top-six slot, and Cox knows from experience that nothing can be taken for granted. Bournemouth had a disastrous run-in last season to be pipped for the final play-off spot by Wigan and he is anxious to avoid a repeat.

"Last year was a heartbreak really missing out but it was our own fault really. We should have sewn it up at least a month before we had to go into the last game of the season.

"It's important now that we don't get complacent," he said.

Burnley will have Dean West available again but he may start on the bench alongside Gordon Armstrong if Graham Branch starts the game on the left flank in a positive-looking line-up.

Bournemouth will again be without striker Steve Fletcher due to a hamstring injury, and right-back Neil Young is doubtful with a groin injury.

Karl Broadhurst stands by as the only possible change to the side that won 2-1 at Luton last Saturday.

Burnley from: Crichton, Little, Branch, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Johnrose, Cook, Payton, Cooke, Mullin, West, Armstrong, Jepson, Smith, Weller, Brass, Robertson.

Bournemouth from: Ovendale, Young, Warren, Howe, O'Shea, Hayter, Robinson, Mean, Hughes, O'Neill, Stein, Broadhurst, Keller, C Fletcher, Day, Stewart (gk).

The Clarets youth team are at home to Carlisle in the Youth Alliance League tomorrow morning.

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