COMPARE Craig Hignett to Juninho and most people would say there is no comparison.

One hails from Sao Paulo in the land of the Samba and has 'world-class' stamped on his CV, while the other learned his trade in the shadow of the railway cuttings at Crewe.

Juninho arrived at the Riverside Stadium with a universal reputation and was, understandably, offered a salary structure to match it.

Boro, meanwhile, were ready at one stage to unload Hignett but the player offered to take a pay cut to prove he could still make it in the Premiership.

Even physically the two men differ substantially with Hignett, at five feet nine inches and weighing 11st 10lbs, "towering" over the little Brazilian who is four inches and a couple of stones inferior in size to his Middlesbrough team-mate.

Everyone is aware of the threat of Juninho who makes the headlines and has enjoyed the sort of season that should have pushed him into pole position for the top individual awards.

But Blackburn Rovers will ignore Hignett at their peril when tonight's Premiership clash finally gets under way - nearly five months behind schedule.

One thing he has in common with his Riverside team-mate is that both like to get forward from deep to threaten the opposition goal.

And that's just what they did when the two teams met at Middlesbrough in March.

There was tension in the air that night, as Boro won 2-1, but nothing like the atmosphere which will engulf Ewood this evening.

Rovers' players and staff can't afford to do anything but approach the game professionally and Tony Parkes says the circumstances which surrounded Boro's controversial decision not to turn up for the original date are now history.

But the fans will see it as a grudge match on the pitch and will be determined to ensure Rovers get the maximum out of home advantage.

Playing the relegation run-in away from home, however, doesn't cause Hignett a moment's concern.

He scored Middlesbrough's third goal in the 3-3 draw at Old Trafford on Monday and claims they are quite happy to be on their travels - after tonight, the Teessiders go to Leeds on Sunday.

"We should have a better away record with the players we have because we are a good counter-attacking team as we showed at Old Trafford," he said.

"We had a few problems away from home in the early part of the season but recently it's suited us playing away from the Riverside. Teams come to us a bit scared. They sit back and we have found it hard to break them down.

"But away from home the onus is on the opposition to attack us and that's what we enjoy because of the players we have."

Hignett knows that Boro need a minimum of four points to avoid going into the FA Cup final as a relegated team but he shrugs off all the fuss that has been made over their demanding schedule.

"The League games are more important than the cup final, a cliche but it's true.

"I'd hate to be going to the cup final as a relegated team, we'll all enjoy the day more if we're safe.

"But we've got used to all the pressure and the hectic schedule over the last few months. We played seven games in 16 days not so long ago, so three in seven days is a doddle.

"We're not bothered about about playing the last three games away from home. We just have to go out there and give it all we've got.

"It was disappointing to draw at Old Trafford after being 3-1 up but in the end both teams probably deserved a point.

"We've got good character in the side and we've got to give the same commitment against Blackburn and Leeds.

"They are all almighty games for us at this stage of the season and have been for a few weeks. But we know what we've got to do.

"If we win both games then we will stay up, if we don't then it's out of our hands and we're waiting for other results. I'd hate to be relying on other teams."

So too would Rovers who need just one point from Boro to be safe.

Middlesbrough could never have imagined how important this game could turn out to be when they took the law into their own hands and called it off in December.

Could the ultimate punishment for that action be awaiting them tonight?

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