Brian Laws is relishing the Championship curtain raiser against his former club, Nottingham Forest.

The Clarets kick off their season at Turf Moor against Billy Davies's side, who fell at the first play off hurdle last season.

Brian Laws tackles John Francis in his Forest days

And Laws, who made over 200 appearances for Forest in the late 1980s and early 1990s, admitted to a wry smile when the new fixture list was announced this morning.

He said: "It's a mouthwatering start for us, there's no doubt, and it really gets the heart pumping for what lies ahead.

"I had a little chuckle when I saw the opening fixture, but I have a good record against Forest, so I am particularly looking forward to it!

"Everyone wants a home game to begin and it's a fantastic opportunity to start the season well.

"Forest will again be pushing to have another go at the Premier League, which makes it a tough start.

"But what a game to begin!"

Burnley face another of last season's play off teams, Leicester City, in their second home npower Championship fixture, while Lancashire rivalries are renewed against Preston North End in the third Turf Moor clash of the campaign.

With away trips to Ipswich, Swansea and Middlesbrough completing the opening six games, it makes for a challenging start for the Clarets.

And the gaffer believes those games will provide a barometer of the overall strength of the Championship.

He said: "We know we need to hit the ground running and there couldn't be a better few games to look forward to.

"The first five (games) are all against strong teams, so it will certainly give us a good indicator of how strong this league is.

"There are no easy games at this level and the fixture list emphasises that.

"It has set the bar high, but it will prepare us for the marathon ahead and we feel we are up to the challenge and our goal of getting back into the Premier League."

For all the 2010/11 fixtures, click HERE