BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will go in search of a UEFA Cup boost at the Hawthorns tonight as Rovers gear up for the biggest week of their season so far.

Souness knows a victory over West Brom would act as a massive shot in the arm ahead of Thursday's crucial UEFA Cup encounter with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria where Rovers must score to stay in the competition.

But the Premiership remains his number one priority and three points tonight would ease the pressure with Damien Duff, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole battling for fitness.

"This is the start of three very hard games for us, especially given our current injury problems," said Souness.

"All the travelling involved will make it a very difficult week but if we can win tonight then that would set us up well for the challenges ahead.

"We know it's not going to be easy, though, because West Brom have enjoyed some good results of late.

"They've had three 1-0 wins so far so they seem to get goals and then shut up shop.

"So whoever gets the first goal tonight could be very important.

"Hopefully, that's us but we'll need to defend well as a team like we did against Leeds to give ourselves a chance."

Souness is quietly confident his Ewood entertainers can withstand newly-promoted Albion's rugged approach.

For all his infamous will to win, the Rovers boss is not one to sacrifice entertaining football on the altar of results, but he understands that his counterpart Gary Megson has had little choice on a limited budget.

Souness does not deny that their footballing philosophies are different - "very" was his one word answer when asked the question, but he insists his players can rough it with the best of them.

"I have players who have shown time and time again they quite like the games which appear to be stacked against them," said the Rovers chief.

"West Brom will be up and at us and we have to be ready, and I'm quietly confident that we will be.

"Football is all about opinions. They have had some good results - and they have had far less resources to work with than we have over the last couple of years so all credit to them.

"They are quite direct, they will be aggressive and it will be quite a hostile atmosphere and I hope my players will respond to all those things."

Souness will give Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke until the last minute to prove their fitness. The former Manchester United strikers have hamstring strains which saw them miss Rovers' 1-0 victory over Leeds last Sunday.

Damien Duff is back in the squad after his injury problems and he looks certain to play some part of the game at The Hawthorns.

But with Rovers facing a daunting schedule of three games in seven days, Souness will not take any unnecessary risks.

"That's the price on the ticket when you are involved in the UEFA Cup and then television dictates when games are going to be played. That's how it is."

Rovers will choose from: Friedel, Neill, Taylor, Berg, Short, Flitcroft, Tugay, Dunn, Gillespie, Thompson, Ostenstad, Duff, Cole, Yorke, Hignett, Grabbi, Johansson, Kelly.