BURNLEY are hoping to secure crack Czech opposition as they put the finishing touches to their pre-season schedule.

The Clarets, who seem certain to have one of the smallest squads in the Championship, have decided to limit their build-up to five friendly games before the 2005/06 season starts in earnest on Saturday, August 6.

Manager Steve Cotterill, who still only has 13 players at his disposal, will wind up his team's preparations at a training camp in Austria in late July, where Burnley will play their final two matches against European opposition.

And I understand a Czech club side have been approached to bring the week-long Austrian trip to a close.

Burnley players return for pre-season training on July 1, with the first friendly arranged away to Cheltenham Town two weeks later, on Saturday, July 16. Former Robins' boss Cotterill's return to Whaddon Road has was arranged last year as part of the transfer deal that originally brought defender Michael Duff to Turf Moor.

Four days later, on Wednesday, July 20, the Clarets will make the short trip to Accrington Stanley for the traditional pre-season friendly against John Coleman's men.

The final pre-season game in this country comes the following Saturday, July 23, when Spanish La Liga outfit Malaga make up the prestigious opposition at Turf Moor.

The Clarets then travel to Austria the following day, with the dates of two friendly fixtures in the Salzburg region still to be confirmed.

Clarets boss Steve Cotterill said: "We pretty much had the pre-season games sorted before the season ended. Five games is just enough and I certainly wouldn't want more because I haven't really got enough players to play any more."

Burnley will discover their first Championship opponents of the 2005/06 season in one week's time, with the fixture list due to be announced on Thursday, June 23.