MATT Derbyshire has warned Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz they face a fight to hang onto their first team shirts.

The 21-year-old striker had to be content with a cameo role at Everton on Saturday, as manager Mark Hughes paired McCarthy and Santa Cruz together for the first time in a potentially explosive new partnership.

However, Derbyshire insists he is not overawed by the formidable reputations of Rovers' two Champions League winning strikers, and he is confident he is good enough to compete with both for a first team spot over the next nine months.

The England Under 21 international, who might be given a starting role against MyPa-47 in the UEFA Cup tonight, said: "The amount of goals I score will depend on the number of games and the amount of minutes I get on the pitch.

"Every day in training I try to do my best, and if I come on, I try to do my best and show the manager I can be as good as them.

"Obviously, Benni and Roque are a lot more experienced than myself and they have bigger reputations. But I am not going to let that get me down in any way, shape or form.

"The main thing is to get my head down and when I come on, get into the right positions on the pitch and nick some goals. That will do for me."

Hughes' summer capture of Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich may have increased the competition for places up front, but Derbyshire has welcomed the Paraguayan's arrival, and he believes he can only improve from working alongside players of his calibre.

"A lot of people ask me if I am worried about new strikers coming in but I am 21 and I'm sure for the rest of my career, there will be a lot of people asking if I am worried," said Derbyshire.

"I may go on to play for different clubs, or I may stay here throughout my career. But whatever happens, there will be strikers coming in.

"To be honest, it's going to be good competition. If a player like Roque comes in, you can only learn from him.

"I think everybody knew about Roque Santa Cruz before he came here because he is a great player. It's exciting for the club to have him and Benni McCarthy here, leading the strike force."

Rovers can take their first steps on a road they hope will lead all the way to the UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium next May by overcoming Finnish minnows MyPa-47.

In the first leg in Finland a fortnight ago, an exquisitely taken goal from Santa Cruz ended up separating the two sides, and Derbyshire is confident he and his team-mates will finish the job off at Ewood this evening.