TWO seasons ago Sheffield Wednesday finished 12th in the Premiership, while Burnley claimed 15th spot in Division Two thanks only to a late sprint from relegation.

Tonight when the two big old clubs lock horns at Turf Moor they could feasibly be heading for a complete role reversal.

Wednesday, heavily in debt and off-loading players left, right and centre, are bottom of the First Division with seven successive League defeats behind them.

Burnley, on the other hand, are seventh in the table having lost just twice in the League so far.

Promotion talk isn't on the agenda at Turf Moor only 11 games into the season but there's no doubt Wednesday would glady swap places with Stan Ternent's side.

"Football has got a way of kicking you where it hurts when you're down. They've had to get rid of a lot of international players, good players at that, and they've found it hard.

"Sometimes when you do drop down it takes time to adjust and I think that's what's happened with Sheffield," said Clarets skipper Steve Davis.

Burnley will be looking to pile on the agony for the cash-strapped Owls but even if they collect their second home win in four days, Davis insists the Turf Moor goalposts won't be moved.

"Still the main priority is to avoid relegation," he said.

"We don't want to get sucked into anything like that. We've had a great start and if we can manage to continue our form and get the rub of the green I'm sure we'll be alright.

"I don't want to use cliches but we are taking it a game at a time."

Davis added: "It was the same last year. After struggling against relegation the season before last the priority was to avoid relegation. "Once you've done that the aim is to try and get in the play-offs and then try and get in the top two. We'll have the same attitude this year and hopefully we'll be safe sooner rather than later and then see where we are.

"You never know. You look at the likes of Watford, who came straight up, and Man City have done it twice in succession. Barnsley have gone up but there's a lot to play for and obviously safety is the priority at the minute."

With Wednesday short on confidence and experience following the exodus and injury of many of their big-name players the Clarets have another excellent opportunity to put three more points on the board.

But after disposing of an equally out-of-sorts Stockport County on Saturday, Davis insists nothing will be taken for granted as Burnley looked to make it three wins and three draws from their opening six home games.

"There is a release of pressure when you haven't got your own supporters maybe on your back if you get off to a poor start and we're expecting a hard game. You can't be complacent in any game," he said.

"We'll have the same approach as we did against Stockport and every other game we've played.

"They are massive games. To think in the middle of last season that we would be playing Sheffield Wednesday, you'd be surprised it was going to happen.

"But it's here, we play them tonight and we'll give them a lot of respect. I'm sure they'll give us the same and we'll see how we go.

"We said on Friday that it was essential to try and get three points against Stockport. Our last home win came against Wimbledon which was our first home game and it's a long time to go without a win.

"Having said that we had gone unbeaten before Saturday and we've carried that on with three points as well. We hope to continue that tonight."