STEPHEN Jordan is aiming to hit a century in the final three games of the season.

The Burnley left-back made his first start of 2008 in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United, in the absence of the injured Jon Harley.

And, should he retain his place for the game at Southampton this afternoon, it will leave him on 99 career appearances.

But, while the 26-year-old would love the opportunity to complete a ton before his first Clarets campaign draws to a close in just over two weeks, after a stop-start season he admits he can only afford to concentrate on one game to the next.

"My aim is definitely to play more games, but I just hope to be involved in the next fixture because you can never look too far ahead," said Jordan, who was signed by former manager Steve Cotterill in the summer after a total of seven years with Manchester City.

"The most matches I've probably played in a season is 29 and I don't think I'm far off 100 league games now, which I suppose is surprising for someone of my age.

"I guess I just have to put it down to the competition I have had to face.

"I can remember at the start of the season when I was in the team and Jon Harley, who is out of contract this summer, wasn't.

"He was probably a bit worried at the time, but he has battled back to keep his place.

"Things change so quickly in football, so you can never get too down about things.

"One minute you can be totally out of it and the next you are back involved again.

"I've always had that strong competition.

"When I was at City, Ben Thatcher and I were vying for the left-back place. There was a bit of a battle there I suppose, similar to me and Jon.

"It's all part and parcel of today's game though because you expect to be challenging good players for a starting slot."

Jordan's situation has been hindered by injury, having limped out of the game in between Cotterill's departure and Owen Coyle's arrival, at Leicester City, with a recurrence of an ankle ligament problem that kept him sidelined for a month.

On his return, Burnley suffered a trio of defeats to Preston North End, Bristol City and Blackpool over the Christmas and New Year period.

But Jordan is determined to make his mark before the curtain comes down on the season in just two weeks' time.

"Jon was obviously in at left-back and he's done well, so the gaffer has stuck with him," he said.

"You expect to be in the team when you are playing well and rightly so, so I've just got to bide my time and hopefully I will get my chance."