MARK Hughes reckons the pressures of the Premiership run-in will work in his team's favour.

The Blackburn boss has split the campaign into sections to help the squad focus on immediate targets, so the remaining Premiership fixtures hold no fear as they close in on European qualification.

The final chunk of the season gets under way at Sunderland tomorrow with Hughes calling for Rovers to keep hitting the targets they've set themselves.

"The fact that we're in the last period of eight games makes it very easy to focus on," said Hughes.

"It's our belief and desire to get as many points on the board from now until the end of the season and we can see quite clearly what we have to do.

"Sometimes earlier in the season you find it difficult to look as far ahead so we've worked on short term targets all season because it was something we felt was important to do.

"I think it's helped us without a shadow of a doubt. We've more or less hit every target, we've only missed out by one point in one period so we are very much on track.

"If we can maintain that we will exceed expectations."

Hughes also admits that, with Rovers' four remaining away games consisting of trips to the bottom three, they should be well placed to mop up the points they need to maintain their top six position.

"We have eight games to go, four home and four away, and we have an opportunity to get into Europe, whatever competition that's in," Hughes added.

"All games will be difficult because they are very important but we feel we can pick points up in them.

"I think it's fair to say that, looking at the fixture lists, maybe the clubs in and around us have more difficult games.

"So let's hope we can capitalise on this period now and kick on and maintain it until the end of the season."