BURNLEY captain Jon Harvey has bemoaned a massive selection blow ahead of tonight's Lancashire League 20/20 final against Rishton.

The Turf Moor club travel to Blackburn Road eager to become the competition's second winners, following Haslingden's success in last year's inaugural 20/20 campaign.

But their chances of scooping early silverware have been rocked due to the unavailability of talented opening batsmen Vishal Tripathi and Jonathan Clare.

Both Lancashire Academy star Tripathi, 18, and 20-year-old Clare, last summer's Lancashire League Under 23 player of the year, are key components in the Burnley set-up and Harvey is disappointed to lose the pair.

"It's difficult to know what side we will be picking because we've got a few lads away," said the skipper. "Losing both Jonathan and Vishal is massive because that's our two openers out. Chris Burton is also working away, so it won't be our strongest side.

"We've reached the 20/20 final mainly because we've had more or less the same XI for all our games."

Burnley, who can also look forward to a Worsley Cup final against Nelson next month, progressed to tonight's showdown after completing a comfortable seven-wicket semi-final victory over Ramsbottom.

Harvey added: "It's nice to be involved in two finals. At the start of the season, you always look to reach at least one of them.

"We will give it our best shot and, hopefully, come out on top. A lot of people came out to support the final and I hope it's the same again."

Rishton captain Peter Sleep is backing his team to win and end a barren run of 10 years without any silverware.

The Australian is hoping home advantage can help guide his side to their first success since lifting the league title back in 1996.

He said: "It is a long time since we won anything so it is about time we put some silverware in the trophy cabinet. The ground should be packed out tonight so hopefully they will get behind us and cheer us on to victory."

Sleep has put his side's run to the final down to a team performance rather than relying on one or two sloggers although it was his 72-run rescue act that helped clinch victory over Todmorden in the semi final.

He added: "I think 20/20 cricket has been a revelation for the league so, in that respect, we are taking it very seriously. It is all very well having one or two going out and hitting the ball everywhere but to win games it has to be a team performance with everyone making a contribution."

That said, Sleep will be hoping new professional Lachlan Stevens has a better day that his debut against Todmorden when he was run out without facing a ball.

"It wasn't the best of starts for Lachlan but he did alright with the ball. Hopefully, he'll get a few runs tonight and we can celebrate some long overdue silverware."

Rishton are unchanged from last Sunday's washout against Lowerhouse so Jimmy Bibby keeps his place ahead of Sean Hutchinson.