BURNLEY have entered the final international break of the season in much better shape than they were two years ago.

When the domestic action resumes on April 1 and the Clarets return to Turf Moor for a league game for the first time since February 12 they will be eight points clear of the relegation zone with nine games to go.

Safety is within touching distance and two wins would, barring a remarkable turnaround from one of the sides at the bottom, do the job. One win and a draw or two may well be enough.

When the Premier League took its final break in the 2014/15 season the Clarets had eight games to go and we're stuck in the relegation zone, although they were only a point shy of Sunderland.

In the end they couldn't accrue enough points in April and May to pull off an unlikely escape act, but it shouldn't be a very different run-in this time around, and boss Sean Dyche believes the experience of that 14/15 campaign has helped.

"There’s more experience, for individuals, the team and myself," he said.

"There’s an openness to the challenge, we know it’s the Premier League and it’s a tough division.

"There’s a nice balance to the thrill of being in the Premier League but the adjustment and the calmness to know you have to deliver week in and week out.

"There’s the clarity of nothing is a given, we have to continue to earn the right to be in the Premier League on an ongoing basis, that was the challenge at the beginning of the season.

"We’re in good shape, we have to keep working hard to the end of the season."

Seven of Burnley's regulars were new to the Premier League two years ago, while Dyche was also enjoying his first campaign in the top flight.

It's been a different story this season and of those players to feature regularly in this campaign only Steven Defour, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Jeff Hendrick and Andre Gray were Premier League virgins, and all bar Gray had plenty of international experience to fall back on.

"There’s a deeper squad as well, in the sense of experience and quality and a different feel to the squad that there was two years ago," Dyche said.

"Some of the players have matured from that squad two years ago and some we have brought in.

"There’s a different connection within the squad and a slightly stronger connection, not just as teammates but with knowledge and experience."

Burnley welcome a Tottenham side missing top scorer Harry Kane to Turf Moor on April 1, before hosting Stoke City on the following Tuesday night as they look to edge closer to securing a second successive season in the Premier League.