BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche is pleased he will get a chance to go head-to-head with friend Mark Warburton at Ibrox this evening.

The Clarets are the opposition for Warburton’s first game at Ibrox as the new Gers boss makes his home bow.

The friendly fixture will give the Light Blue legions a chance to see their side in action for the first time under Warburton and assistant David Weir.

And Dyche is looking forward to meeting his former Watford compatriot and putting his side through their paces in Glasgow.

He said: "There's a great respect for Mark Warburton, firstly, who I've worked with and who is a good friend.

"We were going up there anyway but it made it a lot easier to iron out that situation when Mark Warburton was appointed, for obvious reasons, with my connection with him.

"We've got another game the next day (behind closed doors) because we want the players to have plenty of game time there.

"It's just another twist on the psychology of it.

"I know from the fans' point of view they think they (players) are paid to run and get fit but there's still a psychology to it because you want players fresh and a change of scenery.”

While Burnley don’t open their campaign until the meeting with Leeds United on August 8, Rangers are in competitive action this weekend when they face Hibernian in the Petrofac Training Cup first round.

And Dyche is confident the Ibrox clash will be a useful exercise for both squads as they prepare for the new season and their respective promotion bids this term.

He said: "The reality is Mark Warburton will be looking at his players- are they right? Are they ready?

“We're a bit earlier obviously so I won't be looking at it as keenly as that. We'll be looking at minutes on the pitch and staying injury free.

“The occasion just adds to that and whips it up a bit because you want to play well in front of whatever is there. It sets it up for a good occasion."