WITH high-profile derbies to come against promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End in the next two weeks, Burnley will be mixing it with two of the form sides of the division.

Before that, though, the Clarets must concentrate their minds on the other end of the table to see off the challenge of relegation-haunted Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor tomorrow.

Rangers have lost four of their last five games, have won away only once this season and are yet to taste victory under new boss Ian Holloway.

Relegation to the Second Division therefore beckons for the Hoops for the first time since 1967.

Time is not on their side but that makes them a dangerous animal unless tenth-placed Burnley are prepared to show the same fighting instincts, according to Clarets defender Gordon Armstrong.

Back on home soil after a month on the road Burnley should fancy their chances of following up Turf Moor successes against Fulham and Huddersfield Town.

But Armstrong stressed the need for Stan Ternent's men to be on their mettle.

He said: "In the last couple of games we've had at home we've had two great results. We were very disappointed with the way we played last week so we will be looking to get a result against QPR.

"They are struggling but it will be a big game for them and they will be up for it I'm sure so we'll have to match that and hopefully get the result that we need.

"They are going to be battling for every ball, or they certainly should be. With the situation they're in every point for them is vital so they will be fighting to the end.

"The biggest thing is to match that then we've got good players who, hopefully, can win the game for us."

The versatile Armstrong is set to slot back into the Clarets rearguard in place of Ian Cox, who is preparing for Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Wednesday.

"It is nice to be back playing, not all the time but now and then, and I've enjoyed it. I think I've done all right and it's nice to be involved," said the former skipper.

And he will have an important job to do in picking up the pieces left over from the anticipated duel between Steve Davis and Rangers dangerman Peter Crouch, the beanpole striker whose six-feet, six-inch frame has helped him to 10 goals this season and chances for those alongside him.

"He's obviously a threat. With lads like that sometimes people say they can't jump too high, but they don't have to.

"He could cause problems and they've got Kiwomya, a quick lad who plays off him and who's an experienced player," Armstrong added.

On paper, Rangers look unlikely relegation fodder. However, they have struggled to adapt to life in Division One since leaving the top-flight in 1996.

And as Sheffield Wednesday have shown, the Nationwide League is no respecter of reputations.

"They've got good players. You sometimes look at it and and you think they shouldn't be down there.

"But they are and that's the reality of the situation," Armstrong said.