BURNLEY couldn't have wished for a tougher start to the new Premier League season but last year's top scorer Sam Vokes believes it could be an idea time to face the champions.

The Clarets make the trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday to face Chelsea, and Vokes is relishing the fact that Burnley face last year's Premier League kings on the first day of the season.

It's been an uncertain summer for Antonio Conte's side so far and they will be without last year's top scorers Diego Costa and Eden Hazard on Saturday.

And Vokes, who hit 12 goals last season, is confident the Clarets can spring a surprise on the opening day.

"I feel ready and I can’t wait," the Wales international said.

"There’s no better place to go than the champions on the first day.

"It’s a great chance for us to go and show what we’re about this season and put a marker down.

"It’s going to be a tough day out, but what better time to play them?

"Coming back from pre-season we feel really fit and ready to go and I know it’s one we’re all looking forward to.

"They are a great outfit, which we saw last year, but if we can go there and give a good account of ourselves hopefully we can pick up some points."

The trip to West London could bring competitive debuts for Burnley's four new boys in Charlie Taylor, Jon Walters, Jack Cork and Phil Bardsley.

Vokes is delighted with the summer business done by Sean Dyche and is determined to look up the table this year as the Clarets try and build on last season's 16th place.

"The squad has come on leaps and bounds over the last year or so," he said.

"We’ve got a lot more Premier League experience under our belts and to add those players to that is only going to help.

"For a club our size survival is the first thing for us, but we want to go beyond that.

"We achieved that last year, which was massive, but if we can go past that and move further up the table that would be huge.

"We haven’t set any targets in terms of points or amount of wins we want but we know we need to get in and around that survival mark.

"That’s our first goal and we’ll take anything on beyond that."