MARK Hughes is ready to use the Intertoto Cup as a possible passport into Europe if Blackburn Rovers fail to finish in the top six in the Premiership.

Hughes is still convinced Rovers will qualify for a UEFA Cup place automatically by pipping North West rivals Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Manchester City in the race to finish sixth over the next three months.

But I can reveal the Rovers boss is also working on a contingency plan should they fall short of that target, and he has indicated a willingness to compete in the Intertoto Cup if necessary this summer.

"We've had a close look at our itinerary for next season and we believe that involvement in the Intertoto Cup would not be intrusive," said Hughes.

"The 2006/7 season is scheduled to start a couple of weeks later than normal anyway because of the World Cup so, if necessary, we would have no problem in building the competition into our pre-season preparations."

Clubs wanting to be considered for the Intertoto must register their interest by the middle of next week, which is why Hughes has indicated his willingness to take part now, even though Rovers are still on track to qualify for Europe by a more conventional route.

Prospective entrants must apply before the deadline and then get nominated by the FA, with a place eventually going to the highest-placed club outside the top six that meets that criteria.

In the past, former Rovers boss Graeme Souness regularly snubbed the competition, claiming it impinged on his players' pre-season preparations.

However, Hughes has a different outlook and he sees European competition as being absolutely fundamental to where he wants to take the club, which is why he's prepared to go to whatever lengths possible to make sure that happens.

Should Rovers end up participating in the Intertoto, the only players likely to be affected by the change in schedule would be Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton, the club's only two representatives at the World Cup.

The rest of the squad will have had sufficient time off to prepare for a potential early return to pre-season training.