BLACKBURN skipper Garry Flitcroft has a fighting chance of being fit for Saturday's 'monster' clash with Southampton at Ewood Park.

The influential midfielder feared he had torn his hamstring during last weekend's 3-2 defeat against Charlton at The Valley, which would have resulted in a three week lay-off.

But a scan has since revealed that the damage is not as serious as first thought and Flitcroft is hoping to be ready to face The Saints.

However, the news is not quite as encouraging for recent signing Jonathan Stead.

The former Huddersfield striker also picked up a hamstring injury at the weekend and a scan showed up a slight tear, which means the 20-year-old is now facing a battle to be fit for the visit of Arsenal in a fortnight's time.

"I went into a tackle and felt my hamstring go and my immediate thought was I'd torn it," said Flitcroft.

"But the scan didn't show up anything and Dave Fevre, our physio, thinks I might have damaged some fibres instead so I'm still hopeful that I might be able to play at the weekend."

Flitcroft is currently having two sessions of physio per day in a bid to be fit to face The Saints.

With Barry Ferguson out injured and Martin Andresen still short of match fitness, Graeme Souness is short of numbers in midfield and Flitcroft would provide some much-needed steel in a game Rovers are desperate to win.

The manner of last weekend's gut-wrenching defeat at Charlton left Souness and the players sick to the stomach.

Now they are hoping to take out some of their frustrations on a managerless Southampton side who are currently experiencing certain difficulties of their own.

"It's a monster game and we desperately want to win it," said Flitcroft.

"All the lads were gutted on Saturday after we lost in the way we did and we want to get it out of our systems as quickly as possible.

"We need to start winning games at home and Saturday would be a good time to start."

Should Flitcroft fail to win his fitness battle then recent signing, Andresen, could be in line for his first taste of action since joining on loan from Stabaek last month.

He has played only a handful of games since the Norwegian season finished in November.