Burnley preview
Dudley loaned to Spirites

Gerry Harison, who trained with Athletic throughout pre-season, has joined Sheffield United on trial. Athletic would have liked to sign the 27-year-old defender, either on loan or permanently. There were two stumbling blocks, however, as Sunderland wanted a fee and there also the question of his high salary. David McNiven, who along with Dudley impressed in Monday's 3-3 reserve-team draw at Preston, is rewarded with a. first team call-up. McNiven replaces Junior Agogo, who has returned to Sheffield Wednesday following a loan spell.

This is the only change to the squad, though Ritchie has yet to finalise his side. He has to decide whether to bring in Iain McLean at left back or continue with midfield player Paul Rickers who deputised there in last Saturdays defeat at Brentford. Ritchies other dilemma is what his strike pairing will be. New-signing Paul Beavers, Mark Allott, Matthew Tipton and Ryan Sugden are vying for the two positions. Ritchie is looking for a double as Athletic seek their first victory and first goals of the season. He said: "I am hoping last Saturday's poor show was a one-off because in our two other matches our general play hasn't been bad."

ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, S McNiven, Rickers, McLean, Holt, Garnett, Duxbury, Sheridan, Adams, Innes, Beavers, Allott, Sugden, Tipton, Miskelly, Salt, D McNiven.

Bumley will be without central defender Steve Davis Who strained a calf muscle in he 2-1 home win over Chesterfield.

BURNLEY (from) Crighton, West, Smith, Mellon, Thomas, Cowan, Armstrong, Cooke, Cook, Payton, Johnrose, Jepson, Lee, Branch, Grant, Little, Mullin, Brass, Robertson, Weller.

MATCH PREVIEW

FORMER Athletic striker Ronnie Jepson believes his old club have the right managerial blend to survive and prosper in the new second division season. Jepson, who will be in the Burnley squad for tomorrow's Lancashire derby at Boundary Park says Andy Ritchie and Bill Urmson are the idea men for the job. The veteran, who is still going strong at the age of 36, played only nine games for Athletic after being signed by Neil Warnock.

But he saw enough in his short time at the club to convince him that there were no better successors to the Warnock regime. "Andy is a good up-and-coming manager," said Jepson. "He picked up a lot of experience as a player and has enthusiasm and honesty. "I think it's just a matter of him getting his ideas across - that and a bit of luck because it's hard when there's no money to spend. 'And he has an able assistant in Bill, who knows what it's all about, especially with younger players.

"The two of them are Oldham through and through and, although these things take time, I wish them all the best because I'm sure they'll turn things round." When Jepson signed from Bury 18 months ago, both Ritchie and Urmson were already on the coaching staff. Warnock's intention was that the £30,000 fee would be for services rendered alongside them on the training ground, as well as during matches. The manager's departure at the end of the season, however, left Jepson wondering whether his future might lie elsewhere. "I was already coming towards the end of my career when Neil signed me, so he wanted me to help bring on a few of the young ones," Jepson explained. There were a few other forwards at the club, I thought my place might be in jeopardy "I didn't want to be in the reserves all season, and when I went to see Andy Ritchie and the chairman they were great.

"I enjoyed my time at Oldham and it was a shame I couldn't stay longer. But it was just time to move on." Jepson's four goals in the final week of the season were his farewell to Athletic after a spell interrupted by injury and suspension. He moved to Bumley on a free transfer and, though he still prefers to play as a target man, has since branched out into roles in defence and midfield. The arrival of businessman Barry Kilby as chairman last season raised hopes that the Turf Moor club, which was once such a giant of the English game, would be raised from its slumbers. Manager Stan Ternent used the new cash influx to sign Tranmere midfielder Micky Mellon for £350,000 and Luton defender Steve Davis for £800,000. The latter deal made Davis, who had left three years earlier for only £50,000 less, both Bumley's record signing and record sale.

In the summer, Ternent was back in the transfer market to bring in six new faces. Aston Villa striker Alan Lee - a loan target for Athletic last season - was joined by fellow forward John Mullin (Sunderland), midfield man Paul Cook (Stockport) and defenders Tom Cowan (Huddersfield), Dean West (Bury) and Mitchell Thomas (Luton). Ternent's outlay of around £1.4million may not have made this season promotion or bust, but it has certainly raised the stakes for a club with Premiership potential. Added Jepson: "It's only fair that people should expect us to do well. This is a big club with a lot of tradition and we haven't won anything for a few years. "We have some experienced players here and I'm certainly looking for us to have a good season. I think we should be aiming for the top six."

Bumley's opening day draw at Wycombe and 2-1 victory over Chesterfield last weekend extended their unbeaten league record to 13 games. But they were brought back to earth with a 5-0 hammering at Manchester City in the Worthington Cup. That match exposed some embarrassing smudges in their defensive make-up, and the Athletic management team that Jepson rates so highly will be aiming to exploit the same faults tomorrow.

CHRIS Brass, Mark Robertson and Paul Weller all return to the Clarets squad as Burnley bid to build on their unbeaten Second Division start at North-West rivals Oldham Athletic tomorrow.  The trio all came through a midweek reserve game to earn their elevation to the senior ranks for the first time this season.  Brass would appear to have the most realistic chance of being involved in some capacity, although he may have to wait a little longer for a return to the fray following just 90 minutes of action after a hernia operation.

But for all three, and Weller in particular, their selection in Stan Ternent's 19-man squad represents another important step on the comeback trail. Not named is John Mullin, who is unlikely to play because of a hip injury and Steve Davis (calf) definitely misses the short trip to Boundary Park.  Assuming Brass doesn't start, Ternent will therefore have to decide whether to play Gordon Armstrong or ex-Latics man Ronnie Jepson alongside Mitchell Thomas in a defence looking to maintain Oldham's blank start the season.  "From our point of view I hope they have scored no goals by tomorrow night either," confirmed Ternent, who is expected to recall a fit-again Andy Cooke up front.

"But derby matches tend to be tough matches. We drew 1-1 there last season in a tough game and I don't expect this one to be any different. "But the team is well prepared and has a good week's training. We've ju st got to transfer that onto the pitch.  "You hope for a good start to the season and if we get something tomorrow we'll have had a smashing start."  Midfield orchestrator Paul Cook is also pleased with the way things have gone so far, although he confessed that there is still plenty of room for improvement. He said: "Four points out of six has got to be considered a good start.

"We accept in patches we haven't played particularly well but again there have been a lot of new players coming and going which will always take time. "The main thing is getting points. We got a point at Wycombe where we played well for 60 minutes maybe.  "Against Chesterfield we stopped and started but we won and we know within the club that we can only get better. And as long as we continue picking up points along the way to getting better then hopefully we will be alright."

And Cook stressed the need to keep the Clarets lengthy unbeaten League run going.  "Obviously if we can win it will be fantastic but if we go there and we don't get beat it's all a step in the right direction," he added. "We will be going there to win for sure. There's no way we'd go for anything else. "But if we do come away with another game unbeaten it all adds to the confidence, like at the end of last season, where you start playing games when you don't think you can lose.

"When you're on a bad run you don't want Saturday to come round but when you're on a good run it's a case of 'who are we going to beat this week' which is nice." Oldham, who could bring in Ian McLean at left-back, have had a dismal start to the season with three defeats in league and cup. But they can call on one of the most experienced midfield departments in the Second Division in their bid to revive their fortunes. Neil Adams returned to Boundary Park from Norwich City in the summer and alongside John Sheridan and Lee Duxbury, the trio can boast 1,271 League appearances between them. However, the Clarets won't be too far behind with Cook, Lenny Johnrose and Micky Mellon boasting a combined total of 1,045 games.

Burnley from: Crichton, West, Smith, Mellon, Thomas, Cowan, Armstrong, Cook, Cooke, Payton, Johnrose, Jepson, Lee, Branch, Grant, Little, Brass, Robertson, Weller.

Oldham from: Kelly, S McNiven, McLean, Holt, Garnett, Adams, Sheridan, Duxbury, Innes, Beavers, Tipton, Allott, Rickers, Sugden, Miskelly, Salt, D McNiven.