SAM Vokes is hoping Burnley can put the pressure back on Middlesbrough and Brighton with a victory at Preston tonight.

The Clarets play first this weekend and a win will take them back to the top of the Championship table before Middlesbrough face Ipswich and Brighton travel to Charlton on Saturday.

Last weekend it was Burnley who had to play after everyone else and they responded with a win at Birmingham and now Vokes wants to ramp up with the pressure with a win at Deepdale.

"The other teams have done that in the past couple of weeks and we’ve watched them do it, so it’s a chance for us to go to Preston and play first," said the Wales international, who returned to the starting line-up for the draw with Middlesbrough after a groin injury had ruled him out of the Birmingham victory.

Before that match at St Andrew's the Clarets had dropped to third with Boro and Brighton both finding winning goals in injury time, but on Tuesday it was Burnley who struck late as Michael Keane's goal salvaged a point against Aitor Karanka's side.

"They’re the games we’ve been watching, we’ve seen them nick the goals," said Vokes. "It’s a kick in the teeth, but this was a massive goal for us (on Tuesday.)

"It was massive, you could see it around the place. It was almost a sense of relief, but I think we know in ourselves we were the strong team, especially in the second half. We were unlucky to concede, it was a sloppy goal from us.

"But the reaction to that was brilliant, we piled on the pressure and it paid off in the end."

Vokes believes Burnley owe Preston a performance after losing to their Lancashire rivals at Turf Moor in December.

"It was disappointing here earlier in the year," he said. "There’ll be a great crowd there, it’s another local game and a chance to go out on Friday night before everyone else and put a stamp on it."