COLIN Hendry believes the key to this season's championship chase will rest on the battles between the big guns who are setting the pace.

And Blackburn Rovers face one of the contenders at St James's Park on Saturday, with manager Roy Hodgson making the trip to Holland tonight for a personal check on Newcastle United against PSV Eindhoven.

Hendry refuses to make any predictions but he feels previous experience of title races could also be an advantage and picks out Manchester United as the main danger to everyone.

It was standing room only as the central defender was put on the spot about the club's championship prospects by expectant fans at Ewood last night in an event organised by the Supporters' Association.

And he told a packed Premier Suite: "It would be wrong for me to say right now that we would win the championship. I think we have to take things step by step.

"But we are in a far healthier position than we were at this time last season.

"The key this year might be how well we do against the sides up there like Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle.

"We are doing ever so well away from home and we have already gone to Crystal Palace and Wimbledon and won those games, which isn't easy.

"Arsenal drew at Palace on Saturday but then they beat Coventry at home which we didn't and that evens it up.

"I think it will depend on how well you do against your nearest rivals. "Manchester United are the real threat. They have more players than most in there who have experienced it before.

"But we have players who have been part of a championship side and maybe that is a key." Hendry also feels that at least two of his Ewood team-mates will be heading for France next summer as part of the England squad - Stuart Ripley and Tim Flowers.

"I think this season you have seen the real Stuart Ripley and he's worthy of a place in the England side," he said.

"He's looking lean and mean and I hope he will doing well for us and firing his way into the England squad.

"England have got a great goalkeeper in David Seaman but, compared to what Tim has been doing of late, the others are not exactly setting the heather on fire.

"He looks like he's back now from the double hernia operation, it took me a long time to get over mine."

Hendry gave the fans an insight into himself and the club and was as open as possible. Commenting on the Batty-Le Saux Moscow incident, he said none of the other players could really understand why it had happened. Though the pressure does build up and he himself had once, in the past, hit another player in training.

Hendry also talked about the Mickey-taking in the dressing room and revealed that Jason Wilcox was a brilliant impressionist.

The Supporters' Association have lined up manager Roy Hodgson for their next major event in December and that is sure to be another sellout.

Meanwhile, the manager's meticulous planning can be seen from the fact that he will be in Eindhoven for Newcastle's game.

So far, Rovers have only played Liverpool of the teams expected to make a major challenge for honours.

They have met Chelsea, but both teams made a number of changes for the Coca-Cola Cup clash.

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