BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has warned his players to expect a backlash when Manchester United visit Ewood Park tomorrow.

United are still hurting after losing their Premiership crown to Arsenal and last week's crushing home defeat against their arch rivals, Liverpool, rubbed further salt into the wounds for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who are currently locked in a two-way battle with Chelsea for second place.

Some critics have suggested that Ferguson's empire is showing signs of crumbling amidst talk of unrest at Old Trafford.

But Souness doesn't subscribe to that view and he's preparing to face a United side with all guns blazing as Rovers look for the point they need to secure Premiership safety.

"We are playing the second or third best team in the country," said Souness today.

"We know what they've got in their locker and I'm not really interested in their recent results.

"We've got to prepare to play the team who won the title last season.

"They're going to be fired up because they're still playing for second place and they won't want to have to qualify for the Champions League so they'll be gunning for us.

"They're still the biggest football club in the world and it's games like this which sort the men from the boys."

Rovers have every reason to be confident going into the game, having won back-to-back games against Fulham, Leicester and Everton in recent weeks, which has all but secured their place in the top-flight for another season.

One more point from their final three games will make it virtually impossible for Leeds to catch them.

And Souness won't rest until the club is mathematically safe.

"We're still not there yet," warned the Rovers boss.

"It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that Leeds could win their last three games so we've still got a job to do.

"For them to beat Bolton away isn't impossible, then they've a home game against Charlton which is winnable, and by the time they play Chelsea on the last day of the season, Chelsea could have nothing to play for.

"So it's still very precarious and we can't afford to take our foot off the pedal."

Rovers go into tomorrow's game without Lorenzo Amoruso, who damaged a hamstring in training earlier this week.

That's a crucial blow to Rovers' hopes of finishing the season on a high but it should open the door for Nissa Johansson to return alongside Craig Short.

Souness added: "Manchester United are where they are because of the huge strength in depth they have in their squad."