BOLTON'S South African international Mark Fish today warned Blackburn Rovers - beware Nathan Blake, he's world class.

Fish, remarkably, hopes to jet halfway across the world face Ronaldo and company in Johannesburg when South Africa take on Brazil around 24 hours after Saturday's big Ewood derby.

But Blake is the top striker on his mind at the moment and he clearly believes that the Welsh international can be the key man in the local dust-up after scoring in improving Wanderers' last two games.

"I'm just glad I will not be playing against Nathan - he's a world-class player," said Fish, who is booked in for a 10-and-a-half-hour plane trip to link up with South Africa after insisting the Premiership and his club Bolton come first.

"His goal (against Newcastle) was magnificent and I am just delighted he's on my side."

Blake scored the winning goals in Bolton's 1-0 victories over Wimbledon and Newcastle inside three days at the Reebok Stadium and, with three strikes in the last five matches, he's the man of the moment for Wanderers.

Ex-Rover Scott Sellars was quick to endorse Fish's verdict on his team-mate.

"Nathan did what he does best when he gets on peoples' shoulders. He's strong and quick and I thought he finished brilliantly," said Sellars.

While Rovers concentrate on getting back on track after Sunday's four-goal slump at Old Trafford, when defenders Stephane Henchoz and Jeff Kenna both scored own goals, Wanderers are celebrating being in their best-ever position in the Premiership.

And manager Colin Todd is revved up for a derby game he believes is just as big as any that Bolton play - including the one their fans always relish the most, against Manchester United. "Derbies are something special for players and supporters," he said.

"It's only 13 miles down the road, just as close as Manchester, and should be just as important."

Todd hopes his Wanderers team have learned the lessons of their last away game in the Premiership when they held Leicester City to a goalless draw.

"We have got to be looking at how we played at Leicester and we have to set our stall out in the same manner, but with the accent still on being positive.

"It's another superb challenge for us. We have got a bit of a run going now and we need to keep it going.

"We still need to be disciplined and I am looking for all the players and supporters to treat it as a big derby game.

"But we have got to have a good look at our away form and make sure we go about the games in the same manner that we have gone about things at home."

Wanderers will have a big following at Ewood, where they expect to have up to 5,000 supporters backing their efforts to climb even higher in the Premiership.

There are still tickets available for Rovers fans and they remain on open sale. It is a category A game with prices from £19-23 with concessions, where available, £10.

Rovers have sold their allocation of seats for the Premiership game against Arsenal at Highbury on Saturday week, December 13.

Supporters without tickets are advised not to travel.

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