BURNLEY are ready to blend youth with experience as they aim for a top three spot in North Lancs One this season.

The Holden Road club kicked off their campaign at title contenders Didsbury Toc on Saturday and despite slipping to a 49-7 defeat player/coach Simon Finnan is confident his side can improve of last season’s fifth place.

Finnan has been impressed by how many players have attended pre-season training over the summer months – a bulk of them players who have come up through the junior ranks.

Burnley recently fielded seven players under the age of 21 in their narrow Lancashire Plate defeat to Ormskirk – and Finnan believes mixing young guns and old heads is the way forward.

“The first team squad this season looks like being made up of youth and experience,” said Finnan. “We had a very young team out in the cup and while we lost, it was a game we really should have won.”

Finnan also said it was imperative the club has as many players as possible available to play for its three senior teams each week.

And he will also be looking for a bit of luck when it comes to having a clean bill of health.

“Injuries and availability are the key to a positive season,” he added. “As coach, if I can get all players available on a Saturday afternoon, then I think we will be up there.

“But I know that as we are a club whose players pay to play this is not always achievable as some of the lads need to work on Saturdays.”

Paul Mallaband, in his second year at the club, is the new first team captain taking over the role from the Angelone brothers, Luca last season and Nino the campaign before that.

“The initial aim was for a top three finish in the league and a good run in the cup,” added Finnan. “Unfortunately, we just fell short in the cup so now we can concentrate on the league under our new captain Paul Mallaband.”

Finnan is hoping Saturday’s defeat is nothing more than a opening game blip. Burnley quickly found themselves 15-0 down before Billy Ingham crossed for a try, converted by Gus Ferguson.

But two more quick tries plus a push over try for Didsbury put them on the road to victory.

“We had a lot of players making their debuts and they need to get up to speed at this level quickly if we want to challenge for honours,” said Finnan Burnley host Garstang on Saturday.