This Saturday sees the Clarets come up against top of the table and runaway leaders Reading at Turf Moor.

Reading are almost certainties for the Championship title after picking up and amazing 86 points from 36 games so far this season. When you consider Wigan Athletic were promoted with 87 points last season it really does put Reading’s achievement into perspective, they still have 10 games left.

After losing on the opening day of the season, a 2-1 defeat at home to Plymouth, the Royals then went 33 games unbeaten, before a 3-2 defeat away at Luton two weeks ago. They were back to winning ways though last weekend, finally overcoming plucky Preston in an entertaining battle at the Madejski.

Dangermen, well where do you start? Kevin Doyle this week made his debut for the Irish national side, a fully deserved call-up for the 14 goal hitman signed from Cork City during the summer. It is said that Doyle attracted interest from the Clarets during the summer, but Reading took the initiative, signing the striker for an undisclosed fee.

Dave Kitson is level with Doyle at the top of Reading’s top goal-scorers with 14 goals. Signed from Cambridge United for £150,000 in 2003, Kitson has scored an impressive 38 goals in just 66 starts for the Royals, establishing himself as one of the most feared strikers outside of the Premiership.

‘Third’ choice striker, if there is such a thing at a club with such talent at their disposal is England under-21 international Leroy Lita. Chairman John Madejski forked out £1m of his own money to complete the final piece in the jigsaw in Reading’s quest for the Premiership. The investment has certainly been repaid with Lita scoring 11 goals in 21 starts, and with Reading looking absolute certainties from promotion, it represents a small price to pay in comparison with the riches that wait in the Premiership. Lita has suffered this season with injuries, but his record speaks for itself.

It’s alright concentrating on the ‘dangermen’, but with a team of the quality of Reading, we must not forget the likes of our former hero ‘Super’ Glen Little, Steve Sidwell, Bobby Convey, Ibrahima Sonko and John Oster. It should be an interesting welcome for Oster after the wide-man reportedly rejected a move to the Clarets last season due to wage demands.

So, onto the teams:

Burnley welcome back John McGreal and Wayne Thomas from suspensions giving the Clarets options at the back. With Duff, McGreal, Thomas, Sinclair and Harley all available it will be interesting to see who Cotterill decides will sit this one out.

On the injury front Graham Branch is a doubt after picking up a knock at Coventry, and Garreth O'Connor is still battling to be fit after missing the defeat at the Ricoh with a knee injury. Otherwise, it's a healthy squad to choose from apart from the season-long injury to Danny Coyne.

Glen Little who is currently recovering from a groin injury may be rested, and the Royals also have injury concerns over Steve Sidwell and Dave Kitson, although both are thought to be fit to play.

This certainly is going to be a massive test for the Clarets, coming up against, with a couple of exceptions an unstoppable Reading outfit. Our performances have been shambolic of late, but you watch us pull off one those performances we always seem to do when we’re almost written off before kick-off. It’s just so Burnley.