LUCAS NEILL is willing to sacrifice his place in the Rovers starting line-up to help his country's World Cup bid.

The Australian will fly out to his homeland next month for three weeks and will miss the games against Liverpool and Chelsea in the Premiership.

But even though the right back may lose his place to John Curtis, who is back after a calf injury, he wants to win his sixth cap for his country.

"I was buzzing when I got the call-up even though in the back of my mind I knew I could lose my place to John," said the 23-year-old who signed for Rovers from Millwall for £750,000 in September and has commanded a regular place in the last seven games.

"I will have to come back and fight for my place. That is football. It is all about competition for places and it will keep both of us on edge."

Neill had no qualms about playing for his country over his club after a three year absence from the Australian squad as he concentrated on the Socceroos Olympic bid.

He knows playing at Ewood has won him another chance and he would love to help his country to the World Cup play-offs where they will face a South American country, probably Uruguay, over two legs. "It is always a honour to be picked for your country. It is nice to be involved and hopefully play a part in getting my country into the World Cup finals.

"It is an important game and I want to play and that is with no disrespect to Blackburn who I know have two big games.

"We are one step away from the World Cup finals and, after last time's disappointment, it would be great to help to raise the profile of the national team.

"It is good to be in demand for club and country - but is is also hard as well. I am always going to upset one or the other and there is no right or wrong."

But he is certainly enjoying life at Blackburn - where he also managed to get on the scoresheet in the 1-1 draw against Bolton.

"Playing at Blackburn has certainly raised my profile," he said. "I have learnt a lot from Henning Berg, Craig Short and John Curtis.

"I enjoy watching them in training. I have also learnt from Damien Johnson, Keith Gillespie, Tugay and Garry Flitcroft. Flitcroft is a guiding light.

"When I was playing for Millwall, with no disrespect to them, the manager of Australia had said there were higher profile players he would pick before me even when I was playing well.

"But being at Blackburn has been beneficial. I have been getting the reviews.

"We have a very talented side although, with no disrespect, we have no huge names. Everyone here is pulling in the right direction which is getting us the results."

Neill is currently concentrating on Blackburn's game against Leicester on Monday night at Ewood Park but is willing to lend his support to Australia's friendly game against France in Melbourne a week before the play-offs.

This has been the subject of much controversy and it has caused some Premiership managers to speak out, not wanting their players to travel so far for a friendly.

"I think it is important to us. We need a tough game in preparation for the play-offs. We need it so we can blow the cobwebs off and if we make any mistakes, they can be sorted out before the play-offs."

It will be a case of coming up against the likes of Silvyian Wiltord and Thierry Henry again - who he faced in Blackburn's 3-3 draw with Arsenal last week.

"I know plenty about them now," he laughed.

AUSTRALIA'S friendly against France is on November 10 while the first leg of the play-offs is November 17 with the second leg the following week.