EXPECTATION and money are making Burnley's attempts to secure promotion from the Championship harder than it was two years ago, according to midfielder Scott Arfield.

The Clarets face another test of their promotion credentials tonight when they travel to Hillsborough to take on a Sheffield Wednesday side who have won six in a row on home turf.

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But despite their good form, and the fact they have spent over £11million on significantly strengthening their squad under Carlos Carvalhal, they remain outside of the top six.

"There's money getting pumped in to clubs and the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City, who have money, aren't breaking into the top six yet. It shows you how strong this league is. It's a difficult league to get out of," said Arfield, who won promotion at the first time of asking with the Clarets in 2013/14.

"Over the years Sheffield Wednesday have probably under-achieved with the size of the club and stature. They're pumping money in to the club and taking players like (Fernando) Forestieri, Ross (Wallace), Gary Hooper. It shows their intent to try and get out of this league. I don't think they're far away to be fair.

"It's possibly harder because of the money but also because of the expectation. There wasn't any expectation on us two years ago that we were going to achieve it but there probably is more expectation from the outside now. We were one of the favourites at the start of the season to go up.

"The expectation from us was exactly the same two years ago as what it is now. It's never changed on the inside. That's what got us over the line last time and I'm hoping it'll get us over the line this time."

Having experienced a rocky patch in November and December, going six games without a win, Sean Dyche's side now appear to be hitting top form.

In Dyche's first 148 games the Clarets never hit four in a single match, but in the last nine outings they have done so four times, with eight different players getting on the scoresheet in that time.

But Arfield, who after scoring once in his first 22 games this season and five times in his last nine, said the secret to the sudden goal rush was simple - enjoying the game.

"If you’re scoring goals you’re going to enjoy it, and if you’re enjoying it you’re going to score goals," he said.

"I think it’s that simple. There’s no need to over complicate football. It’s all about having fun and playing with a smile on your face. I think it looks like that from the outside and it’s like that in the dressing room."

Arfield could go head-to-head tomorrow with Ross Wallace, who made 165 appearances for Burnley before leaving Turf Moor in the summer.

"He was brilliant for me, with the Scottish connection and playing at Scotland. He took me under his wing a bit," said Arfield.

"Whoever was playing in there, whether it was me, Kights or Boydy, we had to keep him out of the team.

"He's a top player with incredible technique and he's one we'll need to watch out for tomorrow."