BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has admitted that tomorrow's clash with Reading is a massive game and he is calling on his players to step up their push for the play-offs.

And he believes that the two clubs that clash at Turf Moor are among a large group chasing a couple of places in the top six.

"We are enjoying our cup run but the priority for us is the league, it always has been," he said.

"We need to string three or four wins together and this match is a really important one for us if we harbour ambitions for a place in the play-offs.

"What we have got to do is start winning games against the teams that are above us, teams like Reading.

"When we played Ipswich I said I thought they were a very good side that would get into the play-offs. Pompey and Leicester will probably get promoted and then there is Sheffield United .

"That leaves two places to play for, unless one of the other four has a real drop off in form, and we have got 18 games left. That is 54 points to play for and we are on 38 now.

"There is no better time to start a winning run than tomorrow against Reading."

The Clarets current run is seven games unbeaten but they have drawn their last three league games.

"Most of our games have been away from home," Ternent said, and Burnley only had the one home league game in the whole of January.

Next month they have four home games out of five and the chance to make serious strides up the first division table.

He has some selection posers to deal with as he explained: "Steve Davis, Brad Maylett and Paul Weller are all injured while Graham Branch is suspended.

"I have got Mark McGregor and Coxy wanting to come in and there is good competition for places. Everyone is pushing for places and I will pick what I think is the best team, the best shape and the best balance.

"We have been defending quite well and Drissa Diallo and Arthur Gnohere are doing well.

"Drissa is an out and out defender, he is different to Arthur, but there is no language problem. No one else understands them but they are okay," he smiled.

"Drissa has been with us nearly a month so we will have to sort him and Marlon Beresford out next week."

Like last week's game at Brentford, the match sees Ternent come up against a former colleague and he is full of praise for the job Alan Pardew has done at Reading.

"Pards played for me at Palace and he is a real good skin," he said.

"He is making a good job of it at Reading and that is no surprise to me.

"It will be a good game of football and competitive."