SAM Allardyce is hoping Wanderers' enduring ability to triumph over adversity will take him to his 'ton' at Blackburn on Saturday.

The Whites are chasing their 100th league win under Allardyce's management and a third successive Ewood Park victory with a squad ravaged by injuries and international calls.

And with Rovers on the rise under Mark Hughes, he knows he has his work cut out if he is to reach the milestone and take the derby honours again this weekend.

"We know how difficult it's going to be, looking at their form and our depleted squad," he said on the eve of the 134th league derby between the old Lancashire rivals.

"The situation for us is critical, but it's not beyond us to come from a situation we are in now and produce a good performance, like the one we had last week at Watford."

With Kevin Nolan and Kevin Davies returning from suspension and Ivan Campo available after serving a three match ban, Wanderers have more selection options than they had for the FA Cup tie they won so convincingly at Vicarage Road. But Jay Jay Okocha has now joined El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye and Radhi Jaidi on African Nations Cup duty and the injury situation has only eased slightly with Gary Speed having an outside chance of returning after suffering knee ligament damage in the draw with Liverpool 11 days ago.

Wanderers and Rovers played out a bore draw at the Reebok back in September, but both sides have improved appreciably since then, largely on the back of impressive home records. And Allardyce goes into tomorrow's head to head with a healthy respect for Hughes and his team.

"That game at our place produced little in terms of entertainment and although we were both happy with a clean sheet, tyhey would have been more satisfied because they got the point aweay from home - and not too many have done that here,' Allardtce said.

"Liverpool managed it at the death but Arsenal couldn't, so that looks a very good point from Blackburn's point of view and they are in better form now than they were then.

"Their home record looks as good as ours.'

With both teams known for their commitment and physical approach, a tough contest i on the cards. But Allardyce saw Rovers come from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchestyer United at Ewood in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday night and was impressed by their all-ound performance.

"Blackburn played a very good game of football against manchester United and there was nopthing from Alex (Sir Alex Ferguson) about their 'rough-arm' tactics," he said.

"There was a little bit of a scuffle between Savage and Smith, but that was onlyu to b expected in that type of game with that type of player."

Wanderers' main concern is that, while confident they have enough talent and experience in their first 11, they may not have enough on the bench to make the key substitions that have proved so decisive in the past.

"Most of the players I will select will be there to play the full 90 minutes,' Allardyce added. "Part of our strength this season has been making the substitutions at the right time that have brought us results. But there aren't the same options for that now.'