Blackburn manager Mark Hughes believes tonight's home clash against Sunderland could spark a European challenge at Ewood Park this season.

Blackburn finished 10th last term after heading into the new year in 14th place on 25 points.

And Hughes feels they could clinch European qualification this term with another strong finish to their campaign.

"We're in much better shape than at this stage last year," he said.

"We're up to 30 points and it was late January before we reached the 30-point mark last year, and that was after a decent run that got us into the top half.

"We're very much ahead of where we were last year so we want to kick on now.

"We're usually better in the second half of the season and we hope that's going to be the case again.

"If that does happen then we're going to have a fine season."

If Blackburn are to challenge for a European place this season they will have to preserve their positive record against teams below them in the league table.

Rovers won 2-1 at Sunderland back in September, although last month they lost 5-3 at relegation-threatened Wigan.

"We've been better this year (against lower-placed opposition), but the Wigan game was probably the one slip-up," Hughes said. "Sunderland are one of the better teams down the bottom end."