MARCO Silva expects a 'really difficult' test for his Watford side against Burnley today.

Silva's men have impressed so far this season and find themselves in eighth place after 15 games, but Sean Dyche and Burnley are one place and three points better off than the Hornets.

And Silva accepts his side are in for a battle at Turf Moor this afternoon.

“Burnley are doing very well,” he said. “They started very well and everybody knows it’s really difficult to play them to get good results.

"It is one team challenging in every moment of the match. We must play a good battle to compete and take the result. We need to compete really well.”

Silva and Dyche went head-to-head at the KCom Stadium last year when the Portuguese boss was in charge of Hull City, with the spoils shared in a 1-1 draw, and he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances in East Lancashire.

“Both teams are doing fantastic until now,” said Silva. “It’s a very good start but myself and Sean Dyche want to continue in the same way. There is everything to play for in the Premier League and this is a new game, a new fight and it will be a tough game for sure.

“When we analyse them they are really balanced. They don’t concede a lot of goals, they keep very good organisation and are very strong.

"Every moment from every set-piece they are strong as well. We need to keep focus at set-pieces. We could improve more in this situation. We need to keep a good focus and keep a good balance.”

One side will find a strong record under pressure today, with Burnley enjoying the third best defensive record in the league at home but Watford the third best attack on the road.

Silva's men have scored at least twice in every away game so far this term, but the Clarets are yet to concede more than once in a single Turf Moor home game.

The Vicarage Road boss is delighted with the numbers his side are posting.

“They are fantastic numbers for us,” he said. “The key? We don’t change anything home or away. We try to compete to take points. We play in the same way. Maybe the difference is not in our team but in our opponent.”