BURNLEY go into tonight's derby showdown with Manchester City looking to build on their best League start for 13 years.

Three straight wins have lifted the Clarets to second in the table, trailing the only other side with a 100 per cent record Bradford City, who they face at Valley Parade next Sunday.

It hands Burnley boss Stan Ternent's men the perfect opportunity to confirm their credentials as promotion candidates and, after their 2-0 success at Millwall, they have every reason to be confident.

"I feel that if we can play to our full potential then we should be a match for any side in the division," said Ternent.

"It is a tough division with some very good sides, but we have some quality players.

"It is still early days, but we have won three out of three and everything in the garden is rosy.

"We just have to think that if we do our best in every game them it will take someone good to stop us."

City come to Turf Moor on a high after recording their second win of the season, strike partners Paulo Wanchope and Shaun Goater both scoring twice in a 5-2 win over Crewe at Maine Road.

However, they are weakened with midfielders Jeff Whitley and Eyal Berkovic, who was on loan at Blackburn Rovers last season, both long term absentees and goalkeeper Carlo Nash, who played non-League football with Rossendale and Clitheroe, is out with damaged kidneys.

But Ternent knew it would be a big test of his side's abilities. "Manchester City are an extremely good side with a very experienced manager and good players, plenty of whom have international experience," said Ternent.

"So it will be a tough test, but we are at home and it will be a fantastic atmosphere. We are just looking forward to it."

The Clarets look unlikely to be able to welcome back either midfielder Paul Weller (hamstring) or defender Mitchell Thomas (groin) for the game and left-back Gordon Armstrong and winger Glen Little were forced off the field at the New Den.

"Gordon had a little strain at the top of his thigh so, given the rate at which the games are coming at the moment, I felt it was best to bring him off sooner," explained Ternent.

"Glen should be alright. He had a little stomach trouble, maybe something he ate, and he was feeling under par so he came off too."

"However, one man who will be hoping to have won a place in the starting line-up will be Republic of Ireland international Alan Moore.

He bagged his third goal of the season with a superb strike at the Den and his hunger to succeed looks set to gain him a long-term contract.

"Alan scored a very good goal, but he had been threatening that all the first half," said Ternent of the player he has taken on a three-month deal following the midfielder's release from Middlesbrough last summer.

"And I will be signing Alan on a long term contract, if we can agree terms with him."