BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today told his troops not to become FA Cup fall guys ahead of tomorrow's third round clash with Chester City at Ewood.

Souness knows all about the dangers of cup giantkillings after Hamilton Academicals pulled off a shock Scottish Cup victory against the mighty Rangers when he was player-manager at Ibrox.

And he has warned his First Division promotion chasers to avoid a repeat -- even though he is likely to rest some of his key men against Graham Barrow's non-League minnows.

"You don't have to look to far to see there's been surprises in this competition since it began," said Souness.

"So we've got to make sure another one doesn't happen tomorrow.

"I've been on the wrong end of a giantkilling before and it's not a nice experience."

Souness has hinted he could rest people like John Curtis, Stig Bjornebye, Henning Berg and Mark Hughes as Rovers prepare for three home games in the space of a week.

So that could mean starts for players like Craig Hignett, Jeff Kenna, Christian Dailly and Egil Ostenstad, who have all had to settle for places on the bench in recent weeks.

Rovers are likely to choose from: Friedel, Curtis, Bjornebye, Taylor, Berg, Short, Dailly, Kenna, McAteer, Dunn, Duff, Mahon, Hignett, Hughes, Jansen, Bent, Ostenstad, Dunning, Filan.

Chester boss Graham Barrow will welcome back midfielder Andy Porter after suspension but striker Mark Beesley is a slight doubt with a hamstring problem.

Chester will choose from: Brown, Fisher, Doughty, Lancaster, Ruffer, Beesley (P), Carden, Blackburn, Beesley (M), Whitehall, Ruscoe, Porter, Moss, Kerr, Woodyat, Berry, Woods.