OWEN Coyle has all but got his starting eleven for the first game of the season set in stone.

But he aims to keep everyone guessing for as long as possible. Even the players.

The Burnley boss admits there is still time for individuals to make one last push for selection in training today – the final session before the new season gets underway at Hillsborough tomorrow.

But he revealed the hardest part in naming the 16-man squad to face Sheffield Wednesday will be who to leave out.

“I think I’m clear in my mind at the moment what the side will be, although things could change.

“We have an idea of how we’re going to shape up, but even when that’s done, there will be a few disappointed players, and rightly so.

“They have acquitted themselves ever so well in pre-season, in terms of their physical condition and equally their technical play, but the nature of the game is that you can obviously only pick any given 11 or 16 for any particular match.

“So the hardest part will be disappointing some players, there’s no doubt.

“Pre-season was the easy part because we had nine games, and we wanted each player to have at least five 90 minutes, or the equivalent, under their belt.

“So people will be disappointed, but I always ask them to use that as a positive to make sure when they do get an opportunity, then they take it to stay in the team.

“If they don’t react like that, they will be poorer for it, because they won’t get back in.

“As footballers, you train all week, with the games at the weekend or whatever, and if you don’t react positively, you’re only letting yourself down.

“I will only pick players I feel are up for the challenge, that we have at Burnley Football Club, and want to be a part of it.

“Each and every one of them have been a credit to themselves, and that will continue.

“They know we can only pick 11, so it’s up to them to make sure they are the ones in our mind.

“Whether it’s systems or whatever, there will be times when people are left out, but we play 46 league games plus cup competitions, and it’s rare people play in every game.”

And captain Steven Caldwell stressed the importance of maintaining fierce competition within the squad.

“I think it's a toss-up for every position. We want that competition for places,” he said.

“I think those that are lucky enough to play on Saturday realise they have to perform and do what they’re good at to stay in the team.

“It can only mean that you’re going to play better otherwise you're going to fall short of the mark, so hopefully that will bring out the best in everybody.”

Although Coyle has tinkered with line-ups and formations throughout pre-season, fitness permitting, summer signing Remco van der Schaaf seems set to be a staple of any shape the Clarets adopt.

And captain Steven Caldwell has backed the Dutchman will add the necessary resolve to an attack-minded team.

“Remco’s been fantastic. We love playing with him because he gives us that screen. He’s good in the air, and when it’s a flat ball into a striker he can be in the front there. He's going to be important to us,” he said.

“I think every midfielder we’ve got is going to be important because it's hard to stay fresh week in week out for those guys up and down running miles every single game.

“Remco will be crucial, as well as the rest of the guys.”

He added: “It’s a lot tougher to keep clean sheets if you’ve got a flamboyant team and a team that likes to go forward.

“Personally, I’d rather play in a team like that because it’s exciting and it’s what the fans want to see. It’s great. It’s just trying to get that blend.

“There’s always pressure to keep clean sheets.

“If you look at most teams who are successful in any league they concede the fewest goals. We’re hoping to keep clean sheets but it’s a collective effort, it’s not just about defenders.

“I don’t take individual praise if we keep a clean sheet, it’s a team effort. We have to have the right kind of shape as a team to get clean sheets and it makes our job easier if we have that.

"Hopefully we're working towards that.

“We want to score goals but sometimes I think we need to realise that maybe when we're not playing as fluently as normal to be a little bit tighter and maybe sneak a game 1-0.”