Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between QPR and Burnley, with the two newly-promoted sides going into the Loftus Road clash in the relegation zone.

Newly-promoted sides Queens Park Rangers and Burnley both occupy a place in the relegation zone ahead of their Premier League meeting this Saturday.

Each have had their struggles since returning to the top flight, with the Clarets going 10 games from the start of the season without tasting victory.

However, they have since embarked on a four-match unbeaten run which has yielded eight points and seen them climb off the bottom of the table.

They are one place and one point above Rangers, whose problems have been away from the Loftus Road venue of this first-time Premier League clash.

The Hoops held out for 79 minutes against Swansea City on Tuesday, but two late goals consigned them to a seventh straight defeat on their travels this campaign.

Harry Redknapp will be relieved to be back in more familiar surroundings, although Burnley are unbeaten on their last five trips to QPR and drew 3-3 there last season in a pivotal result in the Championship run-in.

Rangers ended up finishing third to Burnley and Leicester City, and needed the playoffs to secure their promotion. Bobby Zamora was the hero against Derby County at Wembley and could start this weekend.

The fitness of the 33-year-old striker has had to be managed carefully by Redknapp, but the Londoners have undoubtedly performed best when he has partnered former Burnley striker Charlie Austin up front.

Niko Kranjcar will likely be sacrificed to allow Zamora to reunite with Austin, who scored 45 goals in 90 games for the Clarets before leaving for QPR last summer and has netted seven times already this season.

Elsewhere for the hosts, there could be a recall for Mauricio Isla at right-back, with Nedum Onuoha dropping to the bench. Sandro, Alejandro Faurlin and Adel Taarabt remain out with long-term fitness concerns.

Sean Dyche will also make a defensive change after seeing Stephen Ward limp off in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at Turf Moor on Tuesday. Ben Mee is poised for a first start since October 18 at left-back.

Michael Duff is pushing for a return and faces a late fitness test, although Michael Keane may keep his place alongside Jason Shackell, and Scott Arfield should again be preferred to Michael Kightly on the wing.

The visitors remain without Matt Taylor and Sam Vokes, but there are suggestions that the Welsh forward will make his comeback sooner rather than later after eight months out with a serious knee injury.

QPR:

Recent form: WLDLWL

Possible starting lineup: Green; Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Yun; Vargas, Henry, Barton, Fer; Zamora, Austin

Burnley:

Recent form: LLWWDD

Possible starting lineup: Heaton; Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Ward; Arfield, Jones, Marney, Boyd; Barnes, Ings

Sports Mole says: 3-1