STEVE Cotterill is delighted to be handed a home bow as Burnley boss when the Coca Cola championship gets underway.

The Clarets will entertain Sheffield United at Turf Moor on Saturday, August 7 in a feisty War of the Roses clash.

And Cotterill insists the hard work starts here as he draws up his battle plan for the season ahead.

He said: "One glance at the fixture list shows how tough this league is, but if you want to be in with the big boys they are all tough.

"I'm delighted we have a home game first and you can only take things from there. We will not be looking any further than Sheffield United on the opening day, and even if we were it will only be to the next opponents, Rotherham."

The Clarets travel to Sheffield United's South Yorkshire rivals for their opening away game three days later in a showdown that pits Cotterill up against Millers boss Ronnie Moore - the man he pipped to land the coveted job as Burnley boss.

A trip to Watford follows and there are several other testing games for Cotterill's Clarets before August ends, against relegated Wolves (H) and West Ham (A).

November begins with the eagerly anticipated trip to Elland Road - the first meeting between Leeds and Burnley since October 1982 in the old Second Division.

Lancashire rivals Preston visit Turf Moor on Saturday, December 11 - and in a bizarre repeat of last season the Clarets make the short trek to Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day.

January begins with a bang for Cotterill, with his last club Leicester (H) being followed by the trip to Stoke, who he left after 13 games in charge in October 2002.

There are no Easter games next season and the Clarets complete their fixtures with a trip to Millwall on the final day.