Preston North End key player hails local rivals Burnley but sends clear warning to the Clarets ahead of weekend clash | OneFootball

Preston North End captain Alan Browne believes his side could easily take three points away from Turf Moor this weekend as they prepare to face Burnley, speaking to the Lancashire Evening Post.

The Clarets are currently in excellent form, going unbeaten in the league since the early stages of November, with their last defeat coming against Sheffield United who are also in a strong position to win automatic promotion.

Currently 18 points clear of third place, Vincent Kompany’s men look unstoppable at this point and are favourites to win the title, with only an injury crisis likely to prevent them from claiming the Championship crown.

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This weekend, they face a Preston side who have been excellent on the road this term and won’t need to make a long trip to face the league leaders, two factors that could work in the Lilywhites’ favour coming into this clash.

Kompany’s side could only secure a draw in the reverse clash at Deepdale and that will give Ryan Lowe’s men plenty of confidence coming into this clash despite the gulf in class between the two teams.

Preston skipper Browne has conceded that their local rivals are all but promoted at this point – but hasn’t written off his team coming into this clash.

He said: “They’re very good. They look to be promoted already. They’re flying this season and they’ve got some really good players individually and I think they’re set up really well as well.

“They seem to have found what goes for them and they’ve stuck to it and it’s served them really well. They’re there to be beaten as well and it’s a derby, anything can happen in a derby regardless.

“Going into every game I’d always back us.”

The Verdict:

The Lilywhites are certainly a force away from home and that will be encouraging for Lowe’s side, with the Clarets going behind at Turf Moor quite a few times this season.

However, they have responded most times, coming back against Reading, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion to come away with three points and showing great character to secure those victories.

That character will be difficult to face and that’s why Lowe’s men need to be solid if they want to have any chance of taking three points away from Turf Moor.

But Preston have already secured an emphatic victory away at a local rival this season, with their thrilling victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park giving the Lilywhites’ supporters plenty to cheer about.

The Clarets’ depth will be difficult to contend with though, with Kompany having plenty of options that can come on and make a difference if things aren’t going their way during the game.

And this promises to be the visitors’ toughest away trip of the season so far.