Having had ample time to dissect their opening Premier League defeat to Manchester City, newly-promoted Burnley return from a brief hiatus to welcome Aston Villa to Turf Moor on Sunday.
The Lions eased to a 4-0 win over Everton in gameweek two, while the hosts' proposed showdown with Luton Town was postponed to a later date.
Match preview
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With construction works continuing at Luton's Kenilworth Road in order to ensure that the Hatters' ground is up to Premier League standard, Burnley enjoyed a rare weekend off in August, and the Clarets will pay a visit to their fellow Championship promotees later on down the line.
While 18 other Premier League teams pitted their wits against one another last weekend, Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was busy reflecting on the Clarets' harsh welcome back to life in the big time, as the Belgian's old employers Manchester City strolled past his current team on August 11.
The apprentice was no match for Pep Guardiola's mastery on the opening day of the Premier League campaign, as Erling Haaland netted twice before Champions League final hero Rodri got in on the act in the second half, while Anass Zaroury's red card rubbed salt into the wounds.
Few conclusions should be drawn from the hosts' opening loss to the English and European champions, while their 18th-placed standing in the Premier League table is also virtually meaningless with 37 games left to play, and the Clarets have added a few new faces to their ranks since being trounced by the champions.
An opening EFL Cup clash with Nottingham Forest is sandwiched in between Sunday's game and an impending trip to Tottenham Hotspur for the Championship winners, who will no doubt possess the underdog tag for Sunday's battle of the clarets.
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From suffering a four-goal defeat on the opening weekend to posting an emphatic 4-0 win only a week later, Aston Villa bounced back from their Newcastle United humiliation in exemplary fashion during the visit of Everton last weekend, as John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran contributed to an emphatic triumph.
That thumping was a sign of things to come for Unai Emery's men, who have virtually guaranteed themselves of a place in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, putting five unanswered goals past Hibernian in the first leg of their playoff tie at Easter Road.
The Lions made light work of their Scottish counterparts thanks to a 48-minute hat-trick from a red-hot Ollie Watkins, while Bailey and Luiz also found the back of the net for the second game running, and the result of that tie is surely a foregone conclusion ahead of next week's second leg.
Now returning to domestic duty, Villa endeavour to snap a slightly worrying streak of away form, which has seen Emery's side fail to win any of their last five Premier League matches on the road, conceding at least one goal each time and only notching three at the correct end of the field.
The visitors' recent results against Burnley are also mixed to say the least, as they have only amassed two wins from their last eight meetings with the Clarets - also drawing four times and losing twice in that sequence - but they have only suffered one defeat at Turf Moor in the Premier League era.
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Burnley's showdown with Aston Villa will see Aaron Ramsey reunite with his former club following his recent £14m switch to Turf Moor, while Wilson Odobert and Hannes Delcroix have also joined Kompany's ranks over the past couple of weeks.
There is no reason why each member of the trio should not be considered for their debuts this weekend, but Zaroury must serve the first of a three-game ban, while Darko Churlinov and Michael Obafemi are out for the long-term.
Jordan Beyer was another casualty of Burnley's loss to Man City, but the German is only thought to have been suffering from cramp and should be fine to take his place in the hosts' backline.
Speaking of defensive casualties, Aston Villa's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez complained of calf pain in their victory over Hibs in midweek and did not train on Friday, so a late call will need to be made on his availability.
Martinez is one of seven fitness concerns for the visitors alongside Leander Dendoncker (muscle), Philippe Coutinho (hamstring), Tyrone Mings (knee), Emiliano Buendia (knee), Jacob Ramsey (foot) and Alex Moreno (hamstring) - all of whom will watch this one from the sidelines - and Robin Olsen may be required to fill in for the Argentine.
On a brighter note, Nicolo Zaniolo will be eligible to make his debut for the Lions after missing the European success due to UEFA regulations, but a place in the dugout surely awaits the Italian this weekend.
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, O'Shea, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Vitinho; Redmond, Berge, Cullen, Larsen; Amdouni
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Luiz, Kamara, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins
We say: Burnley 1-3 Aston Villa
With a seemingly unassailable 5-0 advantage to take into their second leg with Hibs next week, Emery may be tempted to continue with a strong XI here before resting players in Europe, and Burnley should feel the full force of their visitors' potent attack.
Kompany's men will undoubtedly boast the fresher legs and can get off the mark in front of goal at the second time of asking, but keeping Emery's effervescent forwards at bay will surely prove too big an ask.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
