ROVERS kick off a potentially "make-or-break" seven-day spell at Bolton on Saturday with David Dunn's sights focussed purely on the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The two promotion rivals meet at the Reebok Stadium on successive weekends with Blackburn facing a mid-week trip to play-off hopefuls Watford in between.

Dunn admits it's a run that could shape Rovers' season and winning the fifth-round cup-tie would be the perfect way to start.

The midfield man said: "Everyone wants to win this game. If we win this we're in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup which is a good thing in itself and it's anybody's cup after that.

"Both sets of players would swap a cup win for three points against each other but the best thing would be to win both.

"Once you get that far you're only two games away from the final and I would love to win it.

"I don't think any of us will be taking it easy. Everyone will want to win it because the first game could give you the upper edge. It will be interesting.

"They are strong all over the pitch and even if they haven't been playing too well they have been grinding out a result. It looks like they have got a good team spirit and we will have to be on song."

The cup will always be given suitable respect by Rovers as it's one prize the late Jack Walker would have loved to have seen back at Ewood Park.

"That's always the thing he wanted to win and it would be nice for us. The number one aim is to get promoted but it would be good to win it as well. Maybe it's dreaming a bit but that's what we want to do," added Dunn.

Elevation back to the Premiership has to be the priority, however, and Saturday's game could provide some useful pointers for the potentially critical promotion showdown next Friday night.

"I think with Bolton winning on Tuesday night we have got to win our games in hand and beat them. It's going to be a big game and a sort of decider where we've got to pick up three points.

"It's better to have the points in the bag but if we win our two games in hand, and there's no reason why we shouldn't, that will close the gap and if we beat Bolton it would be all square and all to play for.

"This is going to be our make or break," admitted Dunn, who will go into Saturday's last-16 tie with his new four-year-contract at Ewood signed and sealed.

"I wanted to commit myself to the club. It's been going on for a month or so so I'm glad to have signed to get it out of the way so I can concentrate on my football," he added.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness admits that trying to clinch promotion is the number one goal this season but also insisted that his side is "focussed on trying to win both games."

"I can't wait for Saturday and the players can't wait for Saturday. There's lots of hype with the FA Cup and it's great to be in it," he said.

Winger Keith Gillespie is cup-tied after playing for Wigan in an earlier round and Stig Inge Bjornybye is also expected to miss out again but Craig Hignett is ready to return in what will be a strong Rovers line-up.

Meanwhile, Rovers winger Jimmy Corbett could be on his way back to Gillingham after the Gills enquired about taking their former player on loan.

And if they follow up their interest, Souness won't stand in the way of the 20-year-old, who has failed to force his way into the first-team set-up at Blackburn following his arrival from the Kent club a couple of years ago.

"From Graeme's point of view he would probably do it. He hasn't been able to break into the first-team and this would give him more exposure, which would suit everybody," said chief executive John Williams.