EUROPEAN football would be 'massive' for Burnley, according to James Tarkowski.

But the Clarets centre back insists there's still work to be done to secure a Europa League spot for next season, despite Southampton's FA Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea on Sunday.

That means seventh in the Premier League will now be assured of a spot in Europe and the Clarets need just four points from their final three games to make certain of a top-seven finish.

But it could be secured as soon as this weekend if Burnley, who host Brighton at Turf Moor, better Leicester's result away at Crystal Palace.

While the Thursday-Sunday schedule can put a strain on some clubs and lead to the Europa League being treated as a poisoned chalice in England, Tarkowski believes it will be embraced at Turf Moor.

"It’s different for a club like Burnley. Maybe the bigger clubs aren’t so keen on it, they have a lot of games to play anyway, but for a club like Burnley it will be massive," he said.

"It’s been a great season, hopefully we can finish it in a nice way with a few more points."

Tarkowski was playing League One football with Oldham four seasons ago and Championship football with Brentford two seasons ago, but he now stands on the brink of European football.

"For most of the lads we’ve never experienced anything like that before, so will it a new experience and hopefully something we can look forward to, but the work’s not done yet," the 25-year-old stressed.

The Clarets moved a step closer to Europe with a 1-1 draw at Stoke City on Sunday, coming from a goal down to earn a point against the relegation strugglers thanks to Ashley Barnes' second half strike.

"It was a good point. They’re fighting for their lives at the moment so it’s always going to be a difficult game coming here," Tarkowski said.

"They started really well, really got in our faces and made it in difficult for us and they got the goal.

"For a team like that I think it’s always difficult at 1-0, once you go 1-0 up you naturally just want to sit off a bit more so we get a bit more of the ball.

"Second half I thought we played quite well, we had plenty of chances and we could have nicked it in the end, Johann had a couple of good strikes and we were unlucky not to get the goal."

Despite being comfortable in seventh there was no easing up from Burnley at the Bet365 Stadium.

Tarkowski added: "That’s not something that really happens at our club, especially with the manager and the mentality we’ve got between ourselves.

"We’re in a great position and we want to enjoy our football."