RUUD GULLIT brings his star-studded Chelsea to Ewood Park on Saturday without a victory against Rovers in their last seven attempts - and Colin Hendry is out to make sure it is eight!

Big Col, who led Scotland to a 1-0 World Cup victory against Sweden on Sunday, is looking to round off a successful week against the Londoners as Rovers continue their fight for Premiership survival.

He said: "It's all very well beating Liverpool but now we have to do it against others teams if we want to stay in the Premiership - starting with Chelsea on Saturday.

"The pressure at the bottom of the table is immense but we are coping with it and are confident we can survive. Survival is our only aim at the moment and we haven't set ourselves targets beyond that."

As the search goes on to find a manager to replace Ray Harford, Hendry ruled himself out of the running - despite him being one of the fans' favourites.

He said: "I've noticed that my name has been linked with the job and while management is something I want to go into I'm only 30 and I think I have another five years playing in me yet. I haven't been asked if I want the job but if I am I would turn it down because it's too early for me."

Gianfranco Zola is the latest big name international to join Gullit's foreign legion and the £4.5 million capture from Parma will make his debut alongside fellow Italian imports Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Di Matteo.

Manager Gullit dedicated the capture of the 26 times capped Italian star to vice chairman Matthew Harding who tragically died in a helicopter crash. He said it was a transfer coup Harding would have wanted.

But Hendry is not bothered about the hype surrounding the Serie A imports who have set the Premiership alight and pushed Chelsea up to fifth place in the league.

"They'll obviously come here looking to show off their silky skills but that doesn't bother me. I'm just treating it as another game - another game we have to win."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.