COLIN Hendry is set to return for Blackburn Rovers against title-chasing Newcastle United at Ewood tonight, ready for a genuine heavyweight championship showdown with Les Ferdinand.

And Stuart Ripley should be fit enough to be back in contention, as Rovers will be going all out to show Newcastle that, if they want to claim the crown, they will have to show they are worthy successors.

Hendry, who has now completed a two-match suspension, faces just one of several intriguing individual clashes in what could be a colossal encounter.

For Ferdinand has scored against every Premiership side - except Rovers!

He thought he had achieved that feat in November 1993, on the day Tim Flowers made his Rovers debut at QPR. But, when he jumped for a header, it was Hendry who got there first to score the only goal of the game past his own keeper!

"I just hope that if I score, Colin Hendry doesn't claim it this time," laughed Newcastle striker Ferdinand.

It will be a clash of the Titans.

But there is also Garry Flitcroft against David Batty in midfield, Alan Shearer against his hometown club and memories of VE Day just under a year ago.

Rovers boss Ray Harford didn't risk Ripley, suffering a slight back strain, at Southampton on Saturday - no doubt the fact that there were two games in three days influenced his thinking.

He also has more players available to him now, so decisions like that are much easier to take.

But, if Ripley is fit, it would be a surprise if he was not included.

Rovers could do with a morale-boosting win for other reasons.

Rank outsiders now for a European spot, Harford said: "We want to win tonight, simply because that is always our attitude.

"We don't look any further than the next game and we want to win it, whoever it is against."

There will be a full house and a tremendous atmosphere, with a chance to play a significant role in the title race.

The fans will be needed to counter the noise from the passionate Geordies who made a tremendous contribution to that stunning game at Anfield last week.

Providing there has not been any late reaction to Saturday's game, Shearer will be gunning for his hometown club tonight and aiming to repeat last season's feat when he grabbed the winning goal against them.

He completed the 90 minutes against Southampton on Saturday and Harford confirmed that the England striker was okay.

Several of the national tabloids on Saturday morning stated that Shearer would not be fit enough to play at The Dell, even though Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers knew from the player himself that he had every chance.

Rovers have one or two knocks to check, notably to Jeff Kenna.

If there is any doubt about the Irish international, the way could open up for a debut by Gary Croft.

Rovers look set to choose the 11 to start from: Flowers, Berg, Marker, Coleman, Kenna, Gallacher, Sherwood, Flitcroft, Wilcox, Shearer, Newell, Fenton, Croft, Hendry, Ripley.

Newcastle may well consider having Keith Gillespie in from the start after the effect he had on their performance against QPR on Saturday.

But who drops out for him is a tricky decision for Kevin Keegan who recalled keeper Shaka Hislop on Saturday.

Their starting line-up is expected to come from: Hislop, Watson, Peacock, Albert, Beresford, Gillespie, Lee, Beardsley, Batty, Ginola, Ferdinand, Asprilla.

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