Scott Parker reckons Burnley’s clash with promotion rivals Leeds United could be decided by “fine margins”.

The sides have only lost five league games between them since the start of the campaign, sitting third and first respectively in the table.

The Clarets enter the game full of confidence following a dominant 5-0 win against Plymouth at Home Park.

Leeds are also in good form, recording back-to-back victories against Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich to maintain pole position in the race for promotion.

“A big game for us,” said Parker. “Big game for both teams, really. I think we all understand the magnitude of this game on Monday.

“Two teams that have done very well up to this point of the year. We're playing against a really exciting team in terms of the way they play, a team that has been together now for probably 18 months without massive changes.

“Albeit they have sold some players, but they have got some real quality in their team - players they have kept as well. We experienced that when we played against them early on in the season.

“I am sure Daniel (Farke) will be saying the same about us. He understands the problems we can cause them, it has got the ingredients to be a very good game.

“I think it will be defined by the fine margins. The team that can obviously get the better end of those will come out victorious, no doubt.”

Zian Flemming bagged a brace against the Pilgrims and has now struck seven goals in his last nine matches.

“He is doing well, I'm pleased for him,” the head coach added. “Obviously, he has come into a new club and only been with us for four or five months.

“I realise sometimes the transition for players coming in, albeit Zian is probably not a bigger transition because he has been in the league, he has been living in the UK for some time.

“So there are not many changes for him. The one change that has probably come for him is the information or different styles of what one team plays to another.

“He has had to adapt to that very quickly, and he's done that superbly. I am pleased that now he is obviously finding the net as well. As a striker, they all base their games on goals.”

Remarkably, all eight of Flemming’s goals for the Clarets to date have come away from the road and he is still looking to get off the mark at Turf Moor.

“It is probably not a coincidence,” Parker continued. “I think it is probably the dynamics of the games and what we face.

“It is probably very different. You go away from home, maybe the games are a little bit more open and teams are coming at us a little bit more.

“There are probably bigger chances for us to create or exploit space that other teams are leaving behind. At home, it is a little bit different.

“Of course, teams come with a bit of a different gameplan. We are probably reduced and restricted into the chances we can create for Flem, so I could see the reasons why that may be the case.

“There are definitely parts of it at home where we can improve, or certainly need to improve, to create those chances or better chances for him to score.”

The Clarets chief knows exactly what to expect in the Championship, having previously guided Fulham and Bournemouth to promotion.

When asked if this year’s battle is the most open yet, Parker replied: “I probably see it as it is. There are four teams (in the race) at this moment in time.

“Could there be another come along? Definitely, because that is what this division does. You don't win four games or you have a run of games and before you know it, you could be in and around it.

“While it looks as if there is a gap pulling away from the four teams at the top, I still think it is very early. I don't think any game is going to be defining at this point.

“I think you are not really going to know until you get to the back end with 10 (games) to go. Then you are going to really see who is going to be operating in and around it.”