the invention is a method and apparatus for use therewith for a main burner of a gas turbine . the method employs catalytic combustion to support main combustion . more specifically , a rich fuel / air mixture is catalytically oxidized with the resulting reacted mixture being made lean by having additional air added thereto . the resulting lean mixture is then combusted in the presence of the main mixture that is also lean thereby supporting combustion of the main mixture . the method allows for enhanced turndown of a lean main mixture .