BURNLEY captain Tom Heaton believes the Clarets clear playing identity has helped them in the Premier League this season.

After a brief filtration with a three-man midfield earlier in the campaign Sean Dyche's side are back to the 4-4-2 that has served them so well in recent seasons.

And that identity has seen them approach every game with the same mindset of having a go at the opposition, whether it be a team in the bottom three or in the top four.

"It helps a lot," Heaton said of the familiar approach. "Everyone in the squad knows the role and what we’re doing, injuries, suspensions, illness, whatever it is, whoever comes in knows what we’re trying to achieve.

"We have a healthy respect for the opposition but we don’t get too sucked in, we try and keep the focus on us and it does help.

"We know what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to achieve, whether we’re playing (Manchester) United or someone lower down the table, we go about it the same way, we try and keep that level attitude and it’s stood us well so far."

Heaton lays the credit for that clear 'Burnley Way' approach at the door of manager Sean Dyche.

"It comes down from the manager that. He sets the stall out," the 30-year-old said.

"We tweak it tactically slightly for different sides, but the general theme stays the same, our style of playing, he sets that really."

The identity sees Burnley 13th in the Premier League table with nine games to go with an eight-point cushion on the bottom three, and survival will see the Clarets secure a second successive season in the top flight for the first time since 1974/75.

"That’s the aim, there’s no two ways about that," said Heaton. "The first promotion came quite early, we were fourth favourites to be relegated that year so it’s fair to say it was a surprise to everyone that we went up.

"We moved things forward, gave it a good go, came back down and built on it. A yo-yo club for me is too strong, I think we’re trying to establish ourselves as a Premier League outfit and that’s the challenge at the moment."