JASON McAteer faces a poignant afternoon against his old club Liverpool at Ewood tomorrow as Blackburn Rovers chase a desperately needed victory.

The Merseysider, stung by Liverpool's decision to sell him, has been an inspiration in Rovers' relegation battle, despite the fact that he is more used to chasing success than fighting off failure.

And, even though the Anfield side have been going through a lean spell, he warned his Ewood team-mates not to underestimate them.

"I know as well as anyone that you can't write off Liverpool," he said on the eve of another crucial game.

"With the quality of players they have, they can do a job even if they are missing Owen and Fowler.

"We have to be really careful.

"I think Liverpool will try to catch us on the break and we have to be aware of that."

Merseysider McAteer has not dwelled on the prospect of facing the club he has always supported and then represented.

He explained: "Once you get out there you don't think 'Oh my god, I am playing against Liverpool'.

"I wasn't thinking like that when I played against them for Bolton in the Coca-Cola Cup final.

"You just have to be focused and concentrated on the job in hand. "The biggest thing for me is getting the three points. Deep down, I don't think I have anything to prove.

"I know I am good enough to still be playing in Liverpool's first team.

"But I read some advice which Ian Rush gave to Steve McManaman.

"He said that once you have left Liverpool you have to forget all about them. Otherwise you will never get over having gone.

"I have got to move with the times."

Rovers' predicament is hard for McAteer to take but he remains confident.

"We are still knee deep in it and that's uncomfortable because, with the players we have got, we should not be in this position. We should have clawed our way out of it by now.

"The lads are really optimistic and the team spirit is fine. The gaffer makes sure of that. But we are looking over our shoulders and at other results and fixtures.

"Being down at the bottom is a first for me because I have never been in this position before.

"At Bolton we had a great three and a half or four years when I was there. We got promoted twice and reached a cup final.

"At Liverpool we were always pushing for something and it's quite strange for me to be in this position.

"It's not nice, in fact it's horrible.

"But it's in our own hands. We played well last Saturday. "I know we gave three sloppy goals away but we scored three away from home and when you do that you expect to win. We were a bit unlucky."

McAteer is expected to continue at right back tomorrow when manager Brian Kidd has to find replacements for suspended Keith Gillespie and Callum Davidson.

Gary Croft come into the reckoning, while Stephane Henchoz will need a fitness test on his continuing groin problems.

Christian Dailly has suffered some reaction to his thigh injury and might have to stand down, with Nathan Blake also unlikely to be ready after only just returning to training from an Achilles problem. Rovers are expected to choose from: Filan, McAteer, Henchoz, Peacock, Johnson, Carsley, Wilcox, Ward, Gallacher, Duff, Dailly, Croft, Davies, Broomes, Marcolin, Taylor, Dunn, Flowers.

Vegard Heggem is still unavailable for Liverpool with a leg injury and Patrik Berger and Stephen Gerrard are also expected to remain on the sidelines.

Their squad is expected to be: James, Song, Carragher, Babb, Matteo, Thompson, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, Riedle, McManaman, Kvarme, Friedel, Dundee, Ferri, Staunton, Bjornebye.

John Filan has been voted by Ewood fans as the winner of Rovers' 'Yorkie Fair Play Award'.

Fans were asked in February and March to nominate the most sporting player from their club. Winners at other clubs include Dwight Yorke, Alan Shearer and Sol Campbell.

There were only 400 tickets left for the game at Ewood this morning.

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