HIGH flying Burnley land in Preston on Sunday, ready to provide the opposition in what is bound to be the spiciest Lancashire hotpot derby of recent times.

With the Clarets currently in pole position, the match not only provides them with the chance to provide they are Lancashire's Nationwide top dogs -- it could also give them a ten point lead over North End, should they win.

But for Preston, the chance to go third, and close within three points of their East Lancashire rivals, is waiting to be snatched if they can demonstrate the sort of determination which saw them carve out a win against Crystal Palace and clinch the draw at Coventry.

Preparations for this crunch clash have gone smoothly for North End so far.

But there was a transfer request handed in by squad member midfielder Steve Robinson on Monday.

Robinson, who was seen as a special capture when he joined from Bournemouth for £375,000 in June last year, has started just 11 games, and appeared in 16 more as substitute.

He has netted just two goals -- comparatively low for a North End midfield known for its attacking qualities.

Manager David Moyes said: "Steve Robinson has been unhappy at not being involved in the first team and has given me a transfer request which after speaking to the board we have decided to accept.

"It has been difficult for Steve, because since he has come to the club the form of Sean Gregan and Mark Rankine has been very good.

"And as everybody knows, in time, Paul McKenna will become a central midfield player and when he has played there he has done very well.

"And also with the emergence of Michael Keane in the last six months it has made it difficult for Steve to break through into the team in the middle of the park where he prefers to play.

"So from our point of view, we'll do everything we can to help Steve with him transfer request."

Moyes' reaction to the transfer request is totally different from the way he greeted Jon Macken's transfer request.

Little seems to have happened since Wolves backed off from a £4million+ price tag put on Macken's head, and since returning from injury last weekend, the ex-Manchester United youngster has had to make do with a place on the bench.

Clarets boss Stan Ternant knows exactly what to expect from in-form Richard Cresswell and David Healy, having watched them against Crystal Palace.

But he will also know how prone North End are to being hit on the break at the moment.

North End have identified it as a problem, but even last season, they managed to fight back from an Ian Moore goal to grab victory in the corresponding fixture.