TWO former Rovers will be aiming to send the Ewood club closer to the Nationwide Division One when Bolton welcome Blackburn to the Reebok in the relegation six-pointer on Saturday.

Paul Warhurst, who spent four years at Ewood Park, has been given the all-clear to resume training after his calf problem and could feature at the Reebok.

And former Rovers hero Colin Hendry has rejected a loan move to Division One promotion chasers West Bromwich Albion from Wanderers.

Scotland international Hendry, 36, is now available to play against his former club.

Warhurst, after several weeks on the sidelines, is keen to face his old club. He said: "It has been frustrating but Blackburn would be the ideal comeback fixture for me. A six-pointer against our local rivals and my old side.

"They'll be on a high no doubt after their Worthington Cup triumph so it will be interesting to see how they perform.

"Sometimes it can be difficult to motivate yourself after a final, but I am sure that will not be the case with them.

"The league is always going to be more important than the Worthington Cup, so I'm sure Graeme Souness will ensure they're fully up for this one. I do have some very happy memories of my time at Ewood Park. I spent four years there in which we won the league and played in the Champions League too.

"I was quite unlucky with injuries there - picking up two broken legs - but it was still a very happy time in my life.

"I always had a good relationship with the fans there, and even now they don't give me too much stick despite me joining their local rivals.

"I cannot overestimate the importance of this game.

"If we can beat them and get the three points we'll go seven points clear of Rovers and it really will do our survival chances the power of good."

Meanwhile Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has turned the derby spotlight on his strikers, urging his hit-men to shoot Wanderers clear of the Premiership drop zone.

"We need goals from somebody," the Wanderers' boss.

"I don't care who they come from - Michael Ricketts, Rod Wallace, Dean Holdsworth, Fredi Bobic - anyone!"

Wanderers have shown signs in their last two Premiership fixtures that they have solved the problems in defence that were threatening to scupper their survival plan.

But, after adding Bobic and the French ace Youri Djorkaeff to his front line options, the manager expects his investments and the increased competition to inspire a goal surge.

And, although Ricketts has not scored a Premiership goal in five games, he is not asking his 15-goal top scorer to shoulder all the responsibility.

The last four goals Wanderers have scored in the League have come from midfield - Ricardo Gardner (two), Bo Hansen and Nicky Southall - and, although chances have been at a premium, Allardyce knows his team will continue to live on the edge if they fail to improve their firepower.

That and the need to find a replacement for injured full-back Simon Charlton for Saturday's derby - either from within his ranks or from the transfer market - are his major causes for concern.

Charlton has a hamstring injury and is expected to be out of action for at least two games.