STEVE BRUCE'S super soaraway Eagles arrive at Turf Moor tonight looking for an eighth consecutive league victory.

But the excitement at Selhurst Park is tempered by the fact that the manager's future remains in doubt, with Birmingham City supposedly ready to ask him to replace the sacked Trevor Francis.

It is all in stark contrast to last season when, almost exactly 12 months ago, he was sacked as manager of first division Huddersfield Town with the club languishing in 23rd place with just six points from 11 games.

The former Manchester United skipper was tipped for great things as a boss but he has had decidedly mixed fortunes in spells at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, briefly at Wigan and now Palace.

But having played under Francis at Birmingham he is well thought of at St Andrew's and is certainly one of the names in the frame.

Palace chairman Simon Jordan is hoping that the club's great start following Bruce's arrival in the summer will convince him he is better off as Selhurst where they have had an incredible 16 managerial changes in the past 21 years.

Their current hot-streak began with a 5-0 demolition of Grimsby at home where they have also seen off Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon and Bradford while also winning away games at Sheffield United and previous leaders Wolves on Saturday.

In fact it is not since the visit to Portsmouth last month that Palace have been beaten.

Bruce expects to name an unchanged side against the Clarets and that will mean a 3-5-2 formation.