AFC Bournemouth face one final test before the end of the 2017/18 season, with a trip to Turf Moor on the horizon. 

It was Sean Dyche's side who won the reverse fixture, with a 2-1 scoreline at Vitality Stadium in November. 

Ahead of the game, and following what has been an already successful season for the Clarets, we picked out five points to preview. 

Europe confirmed

After Everton could only draw with Southampton last weekend, Burnley secured their seventh placed finish and spot in next season’s Europa League. The Clarets still had two games to play at the time, with their superb form all season meaning that their position was confirmed early.

The return to European football will be the first in 51 years for the side, who have won on 14 occasions in the Premier League this season, also drawing 12 times. Upon the qualification, Sean Dyche labelled it as a ‘massive achievement’ for the club.

Pope’s on fire

It’s been an exceptional season for Burnley ‘keeper Nick Pope, who found himself in the starting XI following an injury to regular choice Tom Heaton. His 37 appearances in all competitions have not only seen him establish himself as the new number one, despite the return of his counterpart, but also earn an international call up in March.

And earlier this week, Pope was named both Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at Burnley’s end of season awards night. 11 Premier League clean sheets and a total of 111 saves in English football’s top flight have seen the ‘keeper stand out in an already impressive season for the Clarets.  

The Royal Dyche

After securing European football, Burnley boss Sean Dyche has subsequently had a pub renamed after him. The former ‘Princess Royal’ is just a stones throw from Turf Moor, but it will soon be known as ‘The Royal Dyche’ in honour of the 46-year-old’s success with the club.

Staff at the pub first flirted with the idea back in November when Dyche’s side had got off to an excellent start in the Premier League and now it’s a reality, plans are already in place for it’s revamp!

Dedicated fixture

Sunday’s game at Turf Moor will be dedicated to Barry Kilby’s Prostate Cancer appeal. The appeal was set up in 2016 and has already supported over 2,000 prostate-specific antigen blood tests at a number of Premier League and Football League clubs.

At the match, there will be collection buckets around the ground as well as a raffle taking place, with ‘Goalden Gamble’ tickets available from Turf Moor on the day.

Tickets on sale

Tickets are still on sale for this weekend’s fixture, with over 1,000 Cherries having already secured their seats. Supporters have until midday on Saturday to book their place at Turf Moor for the final game of the 2017/18 season, with tickets now on general sale.

The hosts recently announced that all tickets in the home end had sold out ahead of the clash, with a good atmosphere looking likely in Lancashire.

The Cherries' third Premier League season comes to an end at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon and with a fourth top-flight year to come in August, we spoke to Chris Boden, sports editor at the Burnley Express, to get the lowdown on the Clarets ahead of the game.

Burnley have now confirmed their seventh-place finish and with it a place in the Europa League for 2018/19, and their impressive season is where we started in our chat with Chris.

afcb.co.uk: Did the Burnley fans see the success of this season coming?

CB: No, not in any way shape or form! The side finished 16th last year, six points behind Bournemouth, but after being safe with three games to go they didn't win any of those last three games. They could have finished in the top half with a strong ending.

The main thing this season was to finish with more than 40 points and finish higher than 16th. I thought they were well capable, but it was from day one where they went to Chelsea and were 3-0 up at half time; they deserved it on that day and they've not looked back since.

afcb.co.uk: What have been the key factors behind the side's success?

: ​They've never really moved too far away from what's brought them success under Sean Dyche. The main words and phrases looked to is the defensive framework and the organisation, but they added a bit more over the summer. They signed Jack Cork, who Bournemouth fans will know, and Steven Defour who came in the previous summer. Those two played in the centre and have had more possession than they've usually had in the Premier League.

That's added another string to it, instead of just relying on that defensive structure and nicking some games they've controlled games and are able to hurt teams in many different ways, that's probably the thing that's helped them most.

afcb.co.uk: How excited is everyone by the Europa League campaign Burnley have qualified for?

CB: I grew up knowing Burnley as a fourth division team, but you were always told of the side in the 1960s when they were champions of England, in the FA Cup final against Tottenham and they played in the European Cup quarter-final - the width of the post away from beating Hamburg and playing Barcelona in the semis.

It's folklore and a lot of people thought they'd never see Burnley in European football again, to get there 51 years after they were last there, everyone's absolutely thrilled to pieces.

Some people have said it will stretch the squad next season - but I don't think anyone cares. It's a day they never thought would be seen again.

afcb.co.uk: Is there any chance of Burnley not going full throttle on the last day of the season?

CB: They weren't anywhere near their best at Arsenal on Sunday, but the Gunners can do that to teams. Burnley have secured seventh, they can't go up and they can't go down, and they're missing players. Tom Heaton's been out since September - though Nick Pope has done superbly well - they've been without Ben Mee for six games, Robbie Brady's been out since December and Defour's been out since the end of January. Chris Wood is out with a cut on his forehead and Ashley Barnes hurt his shoulder last week. 

Dyche's phrase is that his team will 'go hard', and they will do that, whether they lessen off a bit because the pressure's off completely, you never know.

afcb.co.uk: What is the best way for the Cherries to try and get a result at Turf Moor?

CB: With Bournemouth I always look at the running stats and they're quite high up there. Teams that press quite hard and do to Burnley what Burnley do to others can have an impact, especially if you have that added quality as well.

Tottenham did that to Burnley and were the best team the side's faced, and had Kane and Alli on top of that. That's what to do, you have to match the work rate first and foremost. Burnley were almost better without the ball last season, but that's changed. They're comfortable in possession, so it's about matching the work rate.

Paul Tierney will be the man and the middle at Turf Moor on Sunday.

This season, he had taken charge of 14 top flight matches, handing out 37 yellow cards and awarding one penalty.

However, the referee has yet to show a red card in the Premier League across the 2017/18 campaign.

Sunday will be the third time this season that Tierney has officiated the Cherries, with the win at Newcastle and home victory against Stoke the two previous occasions.

The official certainly possesses plenty of experience, having been promoted to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the 2015/16 season after a successful seven years on the National List.

This weekend, Tierney will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Derek Eaton, with Roger East the fourth official.