EWOOD chief Graeme Souness today warned his players about the dangers of becoming FA Cup fall-guys as they prepare to face Barnsley in tonight's third round replay at Ewood.

Souness knows what it's like to be on the wrong end of a shock after he was dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Hamilton during his time as manager of Rangers.

And he is desperate to avoid a repeat against a Barnsley side fired up to pull off a stunning giantkilling all of their own.

"I know all about being on the wrong end of a cup upset from my time at Liverpool when we were knocked out at home by Bristol City," recalls Souness.

"But that game doesn't stick in my throat as much as when I was in charge of Rangers and we got beat by Hamilton.

"Bristol City deserved to beat Liverpool because they were the better side, but against Hamilton, we spent virtually the entire 90 minutes in their area, only for them to score with their one attack at the other end to win 1-0.

"So that can happen in football and it's something we've got to be aware of.

"Just because we're now at home that doesn't mean that makes us obvious favourites.

"We have a job to do, this is a very difficult tie, and they'll think they have a chance because they did so well against us over at their place."

After a poor run of results over Christmas, confidence had taken something of a battering as Rovers slid down the Premiership table.

However, a combination of Andy Cole's arrival from Manchester United and Saturday's 4-1 victory over Charlton have lifted the gloom at Ewood, although Souness has stressed there's still plenty of hard work to be done.

"We need to look to improve on what we did on Saturday because I think we have players who can still improve in certain departments," said Souness.

"That game was a really important one for us because we hadn't won at home for so long.

"However, if you look at our next two league games, that underlines why you can't afford to look too far forward, otherwise you would drive yourself mad and give yourself sleepless nights.

"So it's a case of taking it one game at time. We've got a hard game tonight against a Barnsley side who think they can come to Ewood to frustrate us and nick a result.

"So we have to prepare for that and give them respect. And, if we work as hard as they do on the night, then the chances are we will beat them because we've got better players than them.

"But football, and this Cup in particular, is all about shocks and we have to make sure we're not a victim of one of those."

With Andy Cole not registered in time to feature, Italian striker Ciccio Grabbi is back in contention for a starting place for the first time since Boxing Day.

And skipper Garry Flitcroft may also return following a groin injury.

Lucas Neill is definitely back after suspension but Craig Short is again absent as he serves the second match of a four game ban.

ROVERS (from): Friedel, Taylor, Bjornebye, Curtis, Berg, Tugay, Dunn, Gillespie, Duff, Jansen, Johansson, Grabbi, Neil, Mahon, Hignett, Hughes, Flitcroft, Kelly.

Meanwhile, Souness believes Turkish midfield ace Tugay has the ability to become his best ever signing.

The 30-year-old midfielder has been a revelation since his £1.3 million move from Rangers, earning a host of admirers with some eye-catching displays.

"It's been a good deal for us in the first six months since we bought him.

"During my own time at Rangers I signed a lot of players, but pound for pound, the best buy I made would have been Ray Wilkins who I signed for £250,000 from Paris St Germain.

"He did an incredible job for us during his couple of years there and I think Tugay could turn out to be an equally good buy for us as Ray was for Rangers."