SAM Vokes has set his sights on the Europa League group stage with Burnley - but admits it's going to be a tough road to get there.

The Clarets get their Europa League campaign up and running next Thursday (July 26) with a trip to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen in the first leg of the second qualifying round tie.

The return takes place a week later at Turf Moor but the Battle of Britain draw has handed Burnley a tough assignment first up, with the Dons finishing runners-up four years in a row in the Scottish Premiership.

"It’s going to be a tough test. We all want to make the group stage, it’s a massive chance, but going up there will be a tough game," Vokes said of the trip north.

"They’ve been back in pre-season a little while now, they’ll be fit and ready to go. It’s a game we’re all looking forward to."

Burnley's return to Europe after a 51-year absence didn't produce the initial trip overseas that many fans had hoped for.

But for Vokes the British draw doesn't change what is expected of the Clarets.

"It’s a strange one, you’re expecting to go into Europe and you end up with a British team, but for us it doesn't change anything, we still have to go out and put the performance in to get the result we want," he added.

"For us it's going to be a tough test and it will be a good game to get them back at Turf as well."

To make the group stage the Clarets will have to progress through three qualifying rounds, with ties to be played on six successive Thursday nights from July 26 to August 30.

But making the groups is the target for Vokes as he prepares for his first ever foray into European competition.

"Not many of the lads, including myself, have never played in Europe in a club competition, so for us and as a club it will be brilliant to make the group stage, so that is the ambition for us," the Wales international said.

"When we knew we were guaranteed seventh that is what we wanted to be in. We know there’s going to be some tough games before we actually qualify for it, but that’s the goal."