VINCE Grella has warned his Blackburn Rovers team-mates ‘don’t take Portsmouth lightly’ after claiming the crisis club’s squad will be playing for their futures.

A Portsmouth defeat at Fratton Park could officially condemn them to the Championship, depending on other results, but Rovers’ Australian has no doubt they will still come out fighting.

The cash-strapped club are already all but down after having nine points deducted having been put into administration and, with 13 senior players missing this afternoon, Portsmouth would appear to be there for the taking.

Grella though, who has declared himself fully fit after his latest calf injury, insists the south coast outfit remain dangerous opponents – with some of the players looking to remain in the Premier League.

He said: “I don’t know whether this is a good time to play Portsmouth.

“A lot of people are mentioning that but I would keep my antennae up against Portsmouth.

“I would imagine if I was a Portsmouth player I would absolutely be playing my guts out to show everyone I am a Premier League player and that I want to play in the Premier League next year.

“I don’t think it is going to be easy at all. They will want to put on a good show for their supporters after the unfortunate situation that has happened to their club.

“If I was one of their players I would want to put on a good show for the fans. Some players want to stay in the Premier League but they are going to have to put on good performance to impress other managers.

“I think we are going to be up for a very tough game.”

It hasn’t quite been the last 18 months that Grella would have been dreaming of at Ewood Park — with a succession of niggly injuries preventing him from being able to make any real Premier League impression.

But the midfielder remains upbeat about his Rovers future as he looks to pose boss Sam Allardyce even further selection headaches.

He said: “I have been fit for a while now but with the past, me, the manager and the medical staff have tried to give the rehab a bit more time.

“It felt great for the reserves against Burnley on Monday, I trained well during the week and was on the bench on Sunday. I am positive and hopefully we can finish off the season with a smile on our faces.

“The mood around the place is the best I have experienced.

“It is positive and I think the gaffer is now able to look at his bench and see what a quality bench he has.

“That is good for the team because the people who are playing now know performances are more important than ever, otherwise your place might be up.”

For the majority of Grella’s Ewood career, Rovers have been fighting a relegation battle but, after Sunday’s win at Burnley saw them break into the top 10, the Australian predicts a better future.

He said: “This is the Blackburn that everyone expects and everyone wants to see.

“You look at some of the teams in and around us and you hear people talking about what such good seasons they have had.

“I don’t think we get a mention but at home we have been very good. Away, we haven’t been so good but it has only been those one or two actions that have killed good performances.

“I think we are happy. You see the supporters’ faces after beating Burnley and you think that is what it is all about.

“We are happy for the club to be successful.”

For the moment though the focus is on securing their third consecutive league win at Fratton Park this afternoon – as he eyes a top eight finish.

“For the prestige of the club we want to finish as high up as we can,” he said.

“For our personal status as well.

“To be in a Premier League team who are in the top eight is different to being in a Premier League team who are fighting for survival.”