RAY Harford sounded a warning to his Blackburn Rovers players on the eve of a big Easter weekend - there's more at stake than just a UEFA Cup place next season on the six-game run-in to the end of the Premiership season.

Rovers visit relegation-haunted Southampton tomorrow, before meeting title contenders Newcastle at Ewood on Monday night but manager Harford is thinking long-term, not just short.

"This is a big time of the season for everybody in our position," he said.

"It could all change dramatically inside three days for the likes of us, Arsenal, Everton etc.

"But we are also taking a long-term view as well, with next season in mind.

"We have two or three players who have come into the squad recently and, of course, we have five or six players still out injured who would all be considered as real contenders next season.

"So we have to take a very close look at things."

Harford, however, also knows that Rovers want points as well to spur them into a high-enough place to have a chance of qualifying for Europe.

"You get the position you deserve at the end of the season and that's the time to take stock.

"But we don't want to go off the boil. Last Saturday's result hurt, even though we had to play virtually all the game with 10 men.

"And I have never known an injury situation such as the one we have had this season.

"But we'll go to Southampton knowing that we have to be up for it and as resolute as we can.

"It's always hard down there and they will be fighting for their lives."

Nicky Marker is set to continue in defence for Colin Hendry, who completes his two-match suspension tomorrow.

Marker has done well in his recent run for the side, both in midfield and defence. But the big decision concerns Alan Shearer, who will have a late test on his groin strain problem.

Shearer is optimistic he will be fit to face his former club after missing an England international and last Saturday's game against Everton. Garry Flitcroft's expected three-match ban does not start until tomorrow week, so he will get the chance to impress in the Easter double, after his disastrous debut day.

Rovers, who haven't won at The Dell for more than half a century, are expected to choose from: Flowers, Berg, Marker, Coleman, Kenna, Ripley, Sherwood, Flitcroft, Wilcox, Gallacher, Newell, Shearer, Fenton, McKinlay, Croft, Gudmundsson, Holmes, Mimms.

Saints, in distinct danger of relegation with a tough run-in to come, will look to Matt Le Tissier for inspiration in what has been a disappointing season for the Channel Islander.

Le Tissier said after their latest defeat by Leeds: "I had two good scoring opportunities in the first half at Leeds which I know I should have put away.

"But that's the way things are going at the moment.

"We took some heart from the game but we need to convert chances into goals and points.

"Three of our remaining matches are at home so we have to try to take maximum points from them."

Saints will hope that defender Ken Monkou has recovered from the stomach bug which forced him to be substituted at half time on Wednesday.

They could also have Gordon Watson, Richard Hall and Neil Heaney back in the reckoning and are expected to choose from: Beasant, Dodd, Widdrington, Monkou, Neilson, Benali, Venison, Tisdale, Charlton, Le Tissier, Shipperley, Robinson, Warren, Watson, Hall, Heaney, Grobbelaar.

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