WEST Ham transfer target Christian Dailly today insisted he will not be rushed into a decision over his future.

The Scottish international defender met Hammers boss Harry Redknapp yesterday for talks over a £1.7 million deal.

But the 27-year-old centre back will weigh up what's best for his family before making a final decision.

"From everyone else's point of view, this must feel like it's dragged on for a while," said Dailly.

"But I only got officially told about it on Sunday so I haven't had long to think it over.

"I went to talk to West Ham yesterday, had a look around, and everyone I spoke to impressed me.

"But it's the full thing I've got to think about.

"I've got kids who are settled at school and that makes a decision more difficult to make when you've got a family to think about.

"I'm 27 now so this is a big move for me because which ever club I move to are going to get my best years.

"And if I sign for them for the next four or five years then it's got to be right.

"It's sometimes difficult to be patient in football because people want things done in 10 seconds.

"But that's not my style, I like to take my time, and it's not as if I've asked for a move."

If Dailly pulls the plug on the move then Rovers boss Graeme Souness will still press ahead with his bid to sign Marc Keller -- probably on loan until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, in-form Rovers take on derby rivals Preston North End tonight with Souness ready to throw down the gauntlet to the rest of his side's promotion rivals.

A fifth win in six League games would lift Blackburn into third place in the table and just two points behind Bolton Wanderers.

And Souness insists now is the time for Rovers to make their presence felt in the race for a Premiership place.

"The way I see it ,our season starts now," said Souness.

"This is the time for us to start showing everybody what we are and that we've got the balls to go out and put everybody around us under pressure.

"It's boom or bust now for me. It's not about getting to April and having a run, it's not about the last couple of games.

"It's about now, about putting your marker down and saying 'okay these are the standards we're going to set and you've got to try and catch us'.

"That's what I want from our group of players.

"I think they've responded very well in recent months and we just have to keep that going. "But I still think we can improve on what we're showing.

"This is our game in hand and we must get the three points from it."

Mark Hughes and Damien Duff return to the squad after missing the cup win, although Jason McAteer will be absent due to a family bereavement.

Rovers from: Friedel, Filan, Kenna, Taylor, Berg, Bjornebye, Curtis, Duff, Mahon, Flitcroft, Dunn, Hughes, Bent, Jansen, Douglas, Hignett.

Preston from: Lucas, Parkinson, Edwards, Kidd, Murdock, Jackson, Gregan, McKenna, Anderson, Appleton, Rankine, Cartwright, Robinson, Healy, Macken, McBride, Moilanen, Barry-Murphy, Eaton.

Rovers played Manchester City yesterday in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Brockhall.