BURNLEY might be walking into a famous European cauldron in the Karaiskakis Stadium tomorrow but for Ben Gibson this is the type of fixture he's dreamed of playing in since he was 'a little boy'.

The Clarets' Europa League play-off round first leg tie against Olympiakos is likely to be a lively affair in the stands at the Greek giants' intimidating home stadium, which has a capacity of just over 32,000.

It can sound like many more on big European nights and with a place in the Europa League group stages on the line it could be noisy again on Thursday.

Arsenal fell to three successive Champions League group stage defeats here between September 2009 and September 2012, while Liverpool were beaten back in 2004 and Chelsea were held in 2008.

So the Clarets will have their work cut out to come away with a result, but it's a challenge £15million man Gibson is relishing.

"It’s something you dream of as a little boy, to play in atmosphere and occasions like that. It’s going to be one we can tick off," the 25-year-old said.

"But having said that you can only enjoy it if you’re playing well and getting the result you want, so we have to go there and get a positive result."

So far Burnley have come away from first leg trips to Aberdeen and Istanbul Basaksehir with positive results, although they have twice needed extra-time at Turf Moor to progress.

They showed a maturity to come away with a goalless draw from the Fatih Terim Stadium, but didn't have to face the type of hostile atmosphere you would expect from a trip to Istanbul, with Basaksehir still a club in its infancy.

It could be a different story in Athens. Olympiakos are seasoned European campaigners and in the last 11 seasons they have made the last 16 of the Champions League three times while being knocked out at the group stages on another five occasions.

But their run of seven successive Greek Superleague titles came to an end last season, which sees them in the Europa League from the very start this term, despite that impressive European pedigree.

"It feels like a big European tie. When you get into the Europa League that’s what you want, you want the atmosphere, that is what excites you," Gibson said.

"It’s those tests, those stadiums and hostile places, they are the things that most of the lads here, including myself, are yet to experience and it will be fantastic to do so."

Burnley are underdogs to get through the tie and reach the group stages, but continuing the journey in Europe can only be a positive for Gibson.

The new signing from Middlesbrough made his debut in the second leg against Istanbul Basaksehir and is likely to start again in Athens, giving him the chance to impress and lay down a challenge to Ben Mee and James Tarkowski.

"There’s more games therefore more minutes for people and more opportunities to impress," he said.

"You’re in Europe, you’re testing yourself against the best, look at some of the names on their team sheet last week, (Emmnauel) Adebayor, (Gael) Clichy, Emre (Belozoglu), (Gokhan) Inler. They’re established names, it’s a fantastic opportunity and a fantastic test and hopefully one we’ll thrive on."