REVITALISED winger Keith Gillespie today revealed his Rovers team-mates are desperate to exorcise the ghosts of last season by staging a promotion party of their own at Ewood next Sunday.

Rovers fans and players alike were forced to suffer in silence last season as Charlton and Manchester City both secured dream tickets to the Premiership amidst scenes of unbridled joy at Ewood.

But Gillespie and Co now know just three wins stand between them and a promotion party of their own.

And, if they could wrap up second spot infront of a full house at Ewood against Portsmouth, then the Northern Ireland international believes that would go a long way to wiping out those painful memories of the past.

"It would be great to give something nice back to the fans after what they had to endure last year," said Gillespie.

"It's not nice when you see other people celebrating, especially on your own ground.

"But we just want a taste of that ourselves now and it would be nice next Sunday to have something to celebrate after the final whistle.

"That would be the ideal scenario for us. It's our last home game of the season and we want to celebrate in style.

"But, at the minute, I don't think we're thinking that far ahead.

"We know we've got two difficult games against Wolves and Grimsby before then."

"So we are going to have to be focused because it's always hard at this time of the year as teams are fighting for points for different reasons.

"There's probably a little bit of pressure on us because everyone expects us to go up now.

"It's just a case of going out there, creating the chances and, hopefully, sticking them away."

Rovers could secure promotion as early as next Saturday if they beat both Wolves and Grimsby and Bolton lose to Norwich and Barnsley.

But manager Graeme Souness is only concerned with what his own side do over their remaining five games. And he admits his players would never forgive themselves if they blew it now.

"We know what we have to do and we know that if we get nine points then it's going to be very difficult for Bolton to finish ahead of us," said Souness.

"There's five games left, there's 15 points to play for and we need to win three of them in the hope that Bolton drop something somewhere along the line.

"So our destiny is in our own hands and, if you come this far and blow it, then you'll hate yourself for the rest of your life.

"But I'm convinced that we'll remain as hungry and as focused as we have been for most of the season. I don't think I have a group of players who I could say to 'right, let's go to Molineux today, sit back and try and nick it' but I don't think we are that type of team. "

"We have to go for the jugular and that might mean us conceding goals but, hopefully, it will mean us scoring them as well.

"That's how we play our football."

In a glittering career spanning four decades, Souness has won over 20 trophies at the very highest level.

Much of that success as a manager came north of the border with Glasgow Rangers.

But he insists the importance of promotion to his present club would far outweigh the significance of those achievements at Ibrox.

"The need is far greater here. It was all about prestige in Glasgow whereas here it's all about a simple financial matter," said Souness.

"The difference between playing in the First Division and the Prermiership next year is enormous.

"Everyone wants to get out of this league and share in what's going on in the Premiership.

"And we as a club know just how important it us for us to get there."