Friday night's Lancashire derby between Burnley and Preston is a meeting of two teams flying high towards the top of the Championship.

The home side are well on course for a play-off place if not promotion itself and their biggest problem could he hanging on to their manager Steve Cotterill whose growing reputation will inevitably see him coveted by other clubs.

The former Cheltenham boss was heavily linked with the West Brom job recently and the Burnley board turned down Sheffield Wednesday's request to speak to Cotterill last week.

However, this Friday evening Cotterill's men face a tough test against a side who are even better placed in the table, sitting in second place behind Cardiff.

Preston recorded a fifth straight home win against Hull City in their last league match thanks to a brace from Danny Dichio but they did not have it all their own way against rock-bottom Tigers.

But significantly - we think - Burnley are playing this match at Turf Moor.

It is their away form that has shot them up the table - they have been beaten three times in front of their own fans.

The Deepdale side could take advantage of some nervousness among the home players as the match goes on.

Betterbet.com offers 5/1 on Preston to grab an away win after drawing at the interval - good odds in our book.