Brian Laws believes Burnley's big push for safety can start against West Ham on Saturday.

A run of 12 Premier League games without a win has dragged the Clarets into the relegation places.

But a win over the Hammers will lift Burnley out of the drop-zone and potentially as high as 15^th in the Barclays Premier League.

And Laws, whose three games in charge have included games against title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, regards the Turf Moor clash as a platform for lift-off.

"Our work starts now," he said. "The transfer window is shut so we can concentrate on the footballing side and hopefully kick on and start producing the football to get us the wins, because we desperately need one.

"West Ham is a winnable game and that's how we've got to approach every game.

"The players will understand this game means a lot to everybody to haul us out of that bottom three which will give everybody a lift and a starting block for us."

Brian Laws hopes to be celebrating on Saturday

Between now and the end of March the Clarets face West Ham, Portsmouth, Stoke, Wolves and Blackburn at Turf Moor, where they have been beaten just twice this season.

And Laws, who inherited a side without an away win all season when he took control last month, admits it adds up to a crucial phase of the Clarets' campaign.

"These next five games will tell us a lot because they are games that are winnables as far as I am concerned," added the Burnley boss.

"They are points to be had and they will tell us for sure after these five games what's at stake and where we are going to be.

"We certainly don't want to leave it to the last few games because we have an ambition to stay in the Premier League.

"And if you want to stay in, this is the time where it counts. Make no mistake we will be approaching it in that manner."

Laws expects a different game to November's meeting

West Ham are a point better off than the Clarets but have won away just once and their 5-3 victory over Burnley at the Boleyn Ground in November is one of only four league victories they have managed all season.

With Laws working with his new-look squad to make Burnley a tougher nut to crack he does not expect a repeat of the eight-goal romp at Upton Park.

But however they come, Laws just wants three points.

"It's a big game for both clubs. West Ham won't want to lose it. We want to win it," stressed Laws.

"We know where we have to be come five o'clock. We need to get at West Ham and win the game, although they won't make it easy for us.

"We know what's at stake. If we beat them we are out of the bottom three which would give everybody a lift."

Graham Alexander (calf) and Steven Caldwell (groin) both miss out for the Clarets but Laws hopes to have everyone else available with possible debuts in the pipeline for Danny Fox and Jack Cork.