STEVE Davis is bidding to guide Burnley to their highest League position of the season by leapfrogging his former Luton Town team-mates tomorrow.

You wouldn't have staked too much on Burnley being above Luton by this stage of the campaign after the two sides met at Kenilworth Road in September.

A 1-0 win for an impressive looking Town side lifted them into second place, while Burnley were languishing in 19th spot in the early stages of Stan Ternent's re-building job.

But the fortunes of the two clubs have changed dramatically since - reflected by Davis's £750,000 move from Luton back to Burnley at the turn of the year - and the Clarets could go up to 12th place if they pick up three points at Turf Moor tomorrow.

Ternent's recent signings have contributed to a run of one defeat in seven games, while Luton have won just once in 13 outings.

Davis is keen to see his former club stop the rot, but not until they have left Turf Moor empty-handed.

"They are still in a good position. They have three games in hand on a lot of teams and if they win them all they will be in and around the play-off positions.

"But if we win we go above them which would give us a boost as well," said the Clarets' defender.

Despite their recent improvement, Burnley haven't won on their own patch since the end of November and need to improve on that record during a run of three home games inside the next month.

"We've done pretty well away from home and now we've got to start winning at home and we'll be soaring up the table, hopefully," said Davis.

"If we finish the season well then we go into the next season feeling confident. If we get off to a good start then, who knows?

"But if there's still a chance of going up this season we are going to go for it."

Davis was hugely popular at Luton and a massive influence on Lennie Lawrence's side in defence and attack, contributing 10 goals before he left to ease the club's financial position.

"It will be interesting to play against my old team-mates but obviously I'm hoping that Burnley come out on top," he added.

"I enjoyed my time down there. The supporters were good to me and I got on well with the manager and all the staff.

"I think everyone connected with Luton, the supporters included, know it's a selling club. It's been proven down the years with the likes of John Hartson.

"A lot of their best players have moved on. It's just one of those things. If it hadn't been me it would have been someone else."

Davis's departure left a huge void to fill and Lawrence has recruited former Burnley defender Gerry Harrison and Bristol City's Sean Dyche in an effort to stiffen up his defence.

The Luton boss has also been looking to bring prolific striker Tony Thorpe back to the club but his loan signing was dependant on Harrison's switch from Sunderland being made permanent and the deals had yet to go through today. However, Harrison is due to make a popular return to Turf Moor in one form another.

"I am negotiating a contract with Luton and I may or may not be a Luton player come the weekend but you don't play any game to lose and three points is very important for us at this time," he said.

"Of course I am looking forward to it. I hope I do alright and get a good reception.

"I think I should because I didn't let them down. I would like to say a thank-you to them (the supporters). I have been out in Burnley since and they have been good to me."

On the home front, Micky Mellon will line up in the Burnley midfield as a new father after his wife gave birth to a daughter last night.

And Mellon could well figure in an unchanged side as the Clarets look to build on a win and a draw in their last two games.

"We are always looking for a win. Every month is important, it doesn't change," said Ternent.

Burnley from: Crichton, Moore, Morgan, Mellon, Davis, Reid, Little, Armstrong, Cooke, Payton, Branch, Swan, Robertson, Maylett, Pickering, Brass, Ford.

Luton from: Abbey, Harrison, McGowan, Spring, Dyche, Johnson, Evers, McLaren, Douglas, McKinnon, Doherty, Fotiadis, White, McIndoe, Scarlett.

Burnley 'A' are away to Wrexham 'A' in the Lancashire League tomorrow.

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