JACK Cork is hoping Burnley can make some more magical European memories this week as they prepare for a trip into the unknown in Istanbul.

After seeing off Aberdeen in the Europa League second qualifying round the Clarets' European adventure begins properly this week, with a tie against Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday night.

Burnley face the side who finished third in Turkey's Super Lig at the Fatih Terim Stadium, with the return at Turf Moor a week later.

Having edged a Battle of Britain clash in their first European tie after last season's seventh place finish, the Clarets are now set for their first trip overseas.

"I'm really looking forward to it and I know that everybody else is," said Cork.

"The fans and the club are looking forward to a trip to Turkey. Hopefully we can come away with some good memories like we've had over the last two games.

"It's a test that we're looking forward to and it'll be a great experience for us to play more European football."

Government-backed Istanbul Basaksehir have some players familiar to a domestic audience in Gael Clichy, Emre Belozoglu, Gokhan Inler and Emmanuel Adebayor.

They finished just two points behind champions Galatasaray last season and will present a test for the Clarets, but Cork admits ties like this are what the club strived so hard for last term.

"I don't know much about them but I know they've got some good players and they finished joint third in the league last year. It's going to be tough," the 29-year-old said.

"They're a good side but hopefully we can go over there and get a decent result. These are the days that you want to experience as a club."

Days like this were a long way away during Cork's first spell at Turf Moor, across two loan spells in 2009 and 2010. The £8million man return to the club last summer but even then Europe didn't look likely, until the Clarets' sensational Premier League season.

"Even last year when I signed people wouldn't have expected us to be playing in Europe," the former Chelsea youngster said.

"For us to get through this first round and secure a tie like that in Turkey shows how far the club has progressed."

Cork was the hero against Aberdeen, heading home in extra-time to tilt the tie in Burnley's favour.

He admits the blood and thunder across two legs against the Dons didn't feel like a Europa League tie, with the Aberdeen fans also contributing to a fine atmosphere at Turf Moor.

"We could hear their fans pre-match from about 4pm, they were singing for three or four hours straight. They were great throughout the game," he said.

"It felt like a proper British game, they let us know that they were there and made it tough for us throughout both legs."

Having got past Aberdeen the Clarets now face the first test of their Europa League and Premier League credentials.

After Thursday night's tie in Turkey Burnley begin their domestic season on Sunday with the long trip to Southampton, one of Cork's former clubs.

But he is backing the club to cope with the double demand this term.

"It's going to be a tough week and that is why everybody warns you about the Europa League," he said.

"We've got the right mentality, the players and the squad depth to deal with it. We're prepared, we knew we'd be in this situation and this could be happening. It's not been sprung up on us, we knew this is how it would be."