BURNLEY'S trip to Sheffield United this weekend marks the mid-point of the Championship season.

So far, so good for the Clarets, who have shaken off a miserable start in terms of results to mount a credible play-off challenge - something that looked out of the question four months ago carrying such a threadbare squad.

Naturally, 'one game at a time' is the time-honoured cliche trotted out by managers quizzed on their chances of remaining in contention when the gongs are handed out in the Springtime.

But Cotterill has been brave enough to look further forwards, insisting that the next 14 games through to the end of February, will determine whether the season blossoms, or wilts and dies.

And whatever the outcome at Bramall Lane this weekend, where Neil Warnock's promotion chasers pose the first challenge, there is firm encouragement that Burnley, with just three league defeats in 13 games, are capable of maintaining their push towards the top end of the table over the coming months.

For at 5pm on Saturday, they will have visited the ground of every side currently above them in the Championship table.

Reading, Leeds, Watford, Luton and Preston have all been ticked off the list, while eighth placed Crystal Palace and ninth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers have also played host to the Clarets, currently sitting pretty in seventh.

By definition, that means most of the road trips left are to the teams looking up at Burnley in what, admittedly remains a tightly congested league.

Likewise, many of those challenging for honours subsequently have to pitch up at Turf Moor, where the Clarets are never easy prey.

The next big marker post after the half-way point comes with the opening of the transfer window on New Year's Day.

By then, Nathan Dyer could have been secured on a season-long loan from managerless Southampton, while the future of Wolves' defender Keith Lowe, whose extended spell at Turf Moor is due to draw to a close after Saturday's trip to Sheffield, will be known.

Their contribution in adding depth and quality to the Clarets squad in recent weeks and months has been invaluable and if one or both could be added to the squad what a boost that would be going into the transfer window, when hopefully Wayne Thomas can further step up his recovery.

All that, of course, is in the short term.

Longer-term, vital moves are already underfoot to keep the Clarets moving forwards on the path to success.

The popular appointment of Vince Overson as Head of Youth Development, the youth team's rousing form under Terry Pashley and the emergence of teenagers Chris McCann, Kyle Lafferty and Marc Pugh offer compelling evidence that the future looks rosy at Turf Moor.

The average age of the first team squad has been significantly lowered from the final days of Stan Ternent's reign.

And the emerging talents such as Garreth O'Connor, John Spicer and Wade Elliott are all benefiting with exposure to the Championship, while experienced campaigner Ade Akinbiyi is setting the pace at the top of the Championship charts with 13 goals and counting.

With everything to play for, suddenly the second half of the season can't come quickly enough!