BURNLEY defender Michael Duff has insisted no-one can afford to be sidetracked by the Carling Cup semi-final when their FA Cup campaign begins today – for fear of missing out on the two showdowns with Spurs.

In similar circumstances to when they dramatically knocked Chelsea out of fourth round in November, the Clarets face QPR within four days of a Carling Cup showdown.

This time, the trip to Loftus Road comes first, and Northern Ireland international Duff warned that must be their only concern this afternoon.

“There’s no getting away from it, people will have the game on Tuesday night in the back of their heads but I’m sure the gaffer will warn us to put that to bed until Monday morning,” he said.

“Football’s got a funny habit of kicking you where it hurts once you start getting ahead of yourself. It’s happened before to me but I’m probably experienced enough now not to do that. It’s about getting through the game, winning the game and then you can look forward to Tuesday.

“If you’re trying to look after yourself with regard to tackles and things that’s when you get injured; if you play poorly the gaffer will drop you.

“I’m sure most people are looking towards Tuesday, but today is an important game because with the finances we’ve earned from the (Carling) cup run, I’m sure the club will want to do exactly the same in the FA Cup.

“Plus it’s probably one of the biggest weekends of the year for supporters and players alike.

“We’ve had a lot of praise and accolades from this cup run and that’s what you want; that’s why you play football to read about yourself in the headlines, so it’s another opportunity to do that.

“It’s a big game, we’re going to have supporters travelling and it’s a long way to go, and if the players don’t play well tomorrow there’s a chance we’ll get left out on Tuesday.”

But as well as playing for their places against Spurs in the semi-final first leg at White Hart Lane next week, Duff admitted they were desperate to recover from back-to-back defeats Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers between Christmas and New Year.

“After the last two results, sometimes it’s probably better to get back in the saddle and try to win another league game,” he said.

“But it’s a chance to get away from the league.

“Winning games is a habit, and that’s why today’s important because, although it’s not in the league, it’s important we try to get those two results, and performances, out of our system.”

The former Cheltenham stopper, who said his best FA Cup memory was when the Robins reached the fifth round in the 2001/02 season, beating Burnley along the way, added: “Obviously there isn’t going to be a giant-killing in our game because we are both in the top 10 in the league, but they’re all big games in the FA Cup, and it’s a tough place to go.

“We’ve got a couple of suspensions so it’s a chance for other people to come into the team and stake a claim for the games coming up in the other cup.

“We’ve had it before this season, at Sheffield United, when we had Wade (Elliott) playing right back, Grezza (Graham Alexander) playing left back and Stevie Jordan playing centre half.

“We’ve got players who can adapt to different positions. With the spirit the lads have, everyone’s prepared to muck in and do a shift.”