Heat is on Burns in Athens

The Greek club's new manager Giorgos Donis played Burns on the right side of midfield for the opening 45 minutes against the German Bundesliga 2 outfit in a match that ended 2-2.

His performance against the Germans may not have been an anything to write home about, with Greece's Sportime newspaper unflattering in its rating of Burns on Sunday, yet the 21-year-old from Blayney is already in the first team mix alongside the likes of Brazilian superstar Rivaldo and new signings Juanfran and Ismael Blanco.

Having been overlooked for the Beijing Olympics, former Adelaide United ace Burns will instead have a full pre-season with AEK to ensure that he is best prepared to face the rigours of his first campaign in European football.

And he may well need it with a number of Greek clubs having bolstered their playing rosters.

AEK should finish in the top three of the Greek top flight once again this coming season with reigning champion Olympiacos sure to go close once more - although a 2-0 friendly loss over the weekend against FC Twente will not have been well received in Piraeus.

Yet it may be Panathinaikos that starts the season as favourite following its acquisition of boss Henk ten Cate and spending almost €20million ($32.9million) on playing talent - highlighted by the arrival of Gilberto Silva from Arsenal and Flamengo striker Rodrigo De Souza Cardoso.

A 5-1 thumping of Belgium's Charleroi late last week in a trial - as the Brazil international looked on from the sidelines - will have shortened the club's odds with the bookies.

Burns may need some time to lock down a permanent starting spot at AEK but when he does, Pim Verbeek will surely come calling.

If his move to Greece pays off, a long-term future with the Socceroos appears Burns' destiny.

That should be enough to wipe away the disappointment at missing out on an Olyroos place at the 2008 Olympic Games.