Graham Alexander is ready to end more than a month of frustration after making a successful comeback from injury.
A calf strain has kept Alexander sidelined since limping out of Burnley's defeat at Bolton at the end of January.
But the midfield general got through more than an hour of action in the reserves' defeat to Manchester City on Monday night to put himself into contention for Saturday's trip to Arsenal.
"I was dying to get out there because it's been five weeks since I've been on the pitch," Alexander told Clarets Player.
"It wasn't the greatest performance from any of us but I was glad to get through it unscathed and give my calf and legs a work-out.
"I felt quite good on Tuesday morning, better than I thought I would, so I was quite pleased with that.
"It's been great work from Mitch and Luke, the two physios, over the last five weeks who have got me back really fit cardo-vascular wise.
"The calf was the test and it came through okay, so hopefully it will be okay now."
Alexander is now looking to play a full part in training on Thursday to force his way into Brian Laws' starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium.
Alexander could be in contention to face the Gunners
"I've got to do enough to make sure I'm selected by the manager and then if I do that I've got to do what it takes to stay in the team," he added.
"That's what I'm here for and that's what I get paid for, to play my part and help Burnley win games.
"When you are not able to do that it's really frustrating. Hopefully there's light at the end of the tunnel now for me and I can get out there sooner rather than later.
"To miss a lot of games and not being out there to help the lads has been really frustrating.
"I've been on the bench in the player-coach's role and involved with the lads round the changing room so I can verbally help them off the pitch but I would rather be on it helping them that way and hopefully that will come soon."
Alexander's organisational ability and tactical discipline have been missed during his enforced lay-off and his return will be a timely one with 11 games to go.
The Clarets need points on the board to climb away from the relegation places and the club's senior professional is determined to do what it takes to keep Laws' men in the Premier League.
"Saturday was definitely a bad result for everyone concerned and everyone will write us off, as they have done all season, so it's down to us to prove people wrong," Alexander said.
"But we are not going to do that by speaking the right words. We've got to do it by going over the white line and producing the goods."
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