BLACKBURN Rovers will kick off the new season with a home game against Premiership newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Dave Jones's Wolves, who went up via the play-offs last season, will visit Ewood on Saturday, August 16.

Graeme Souness's men then make the short trip to the Reebok Stadium for a Lancashire derby with Bolton Wanderers a week later.

And they will follow that up with a mouthwatering home fixture against Kevin Keegan's Manchester City on Wednesday August 27, followed by a trip to Chelsea three days later.

Ewood chief Souness today said he's delighted Rovers will be kicking off the new campaign at home, but admits he would have preferred to have avoided one of the newly-promoted sides on the opening day.

"It's always nice to start at home but maybe it's not so great that we'll be playing a team who have just won promotion because their tails will be up," said Souness, speaking from his holiday base in Italy.

"But I guess all you can ask for is a home game to kick things off.

"As for the rest, I'm not looking beyond the opening day to be honest.

"We know we've got to play everyone at some point and they're all going to be tough because there's no easy games at this level."

Over Christmas, Rovers will be at home to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day then they face a daunting trip to Newcastle's St James's Park on December 28.

In a break with tradition, however, there will be no games on New Year's Day and Souness admits that will make a pleasant change.

"At least we can celebrate New Year like everyone else this time which will be nice."

Other notable dates to look out for include the visit of Manchester United to Ewood on November 22, with the return at Old Trafford set for May day.

Liverpool are set for Ewood on September 13 with the return game at Anfield scheduled for April 3.

Rovers head for Highbury and a showdown with Arsenal on December 13, with Arsene Wenger's team due in East Lancashire on March 13 for the return game.

The big North West derby with Bolton at Ewood has been pencilled in for January 10, and Rovers will wrap up their league campaign with a home game against Birmingham on May 15.

Fans face at least two long trips in the opening three months of the season.

Rovers head for Portsmouth on September 20 then a month later, on October 25, they are due on the south coast again for an away game at Southampton.

Leeds are the visitors to Ewood on Easter Saturday but Rovers face a trip to Fulham two days later on Easter Monday.