TOM Heaton has urged his Burnley team-mates to embrace their decisive final games of the season rather than wilting under the pressure.

The Clarets sit bottom of the Premier League table after a horror run of fixtures against some of the country’s top sides, but they have a kinder final five games including matches against teams around them in the table.

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Those fixtures, starting with Saturday’s home clash against fellow relegation contenders Leicester City, will be critical to Burnley’s chances of survival in the Premier League and the pressure will be on.

Heaton says it is imperative that the Clarets, who still sit only two points from safety, approach those games in a positive mindset rather than buckling under the strain.

“It is tight down there but we’re not shying away from it,” the goalkeeper said.

“There’s certainly plenty to play for at this point and we’re all looking forward to it. We’re trying to embrace it and look forward to the challenge of it. It’s going to be exciting.

“It’s still all to play for. It’s tight and that’s how we like it.

“We’ve got some big games left against teams around us so hopefully it will go the right way for us.”

Heaton’s team-mate Ben Mee is taking a similar approach.

“There’s no nerves, I’m just excited for it,” he said.

“You play football for these big games.”

Burnley have scored only one goal in their last seven games – George Boyd’s winner against Manchester City.

Their recent defensive record is respectable, though, having conceding seven goals in that period.

“We need to try and get both sides right,” Heaton said.

“We’re certainly showing that we can defend, keep clean sheets, contain teams and stop them at this level.

“But we just need to put the other side in and try to create a few more chances and be a touch more clinical up top.

“We’ll look at that but it’s a fine margin.

“It’s important that we keep trying to add to it.”