MARK Hughes's latest signing Andre Ooijer has revealed that Chelsea are running scared ahead of their showdown with Blackburn Rovers this weekend.

The defending champions face Rovers at Ewood Park on Sunday, desperate to bounce back from Wednesday night's shock defeat at Middlesbrough.

But Jose Mourinho's side are hardly relishing the prospect of a scrap with Mark Hughes' troops, particularly if their two previous visits to East Lancashire are anything to go by.

Needing a win to keep their fellow title rivals at arm's length, Chelsea had to show all of their champions' mettle when they rolled up at Ewood towards the end of the 2004/5 season.

That night, they eventually triumphed 1-0 thanks to Arjen Robben's early goal, but, clearly incensed by what he perceived to be bully boy' tactics, Mourinho took an angry swipe at Rovers, accusing them of deliberately trying to intimidate his players.

If that was feisty then so, too, was last season's meeting between the two sides, only this time it was Rovers who emerged triumphant, Steven Reid scoring the winner.

It's not surprising then to hear that Chelsea are slightly apprehensive going into Sunday's re-match, at least according to Ooijer, who has engaged in some friendly banter with Robben, his Dutch World Cup team-mate, ahead of what he hopes will be his Blackburn debut.

"It would be great to play on Sunday against Chelsea and I hope we can get a result there," said Ooijer, who finally completed his long drawn-out move from PSV Eindhoven earlier this week.

"I have had contact with Arjen Robben and he's already afraid, so it is going to be fun!"

It was the prospect of facing teams like Chelsea that ultimately persuaded Ooijer to bring the veil down on his career with PSV and opt for a move to the Premiership.

After a dozen years in Holland, where he plied his trade for FC Volendam, Roda JC and, more recently, PSV, a contract row hastened the 32-year-old's departure to England, where he's relishing the chance to test himself against the best the Premiership has to offer.

Portsmouth and Blackburn both expressed an interest in his services but, after consulting with former Manchester United star Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ooijer opted for a switch to Ewood, believing Rovers have a greater chance of challenging for a European place.

"I am very excited at the prospect of playing here and it's a big relief the transfer has finally been done," said Ooijer (pronounced Ooyer).

"When a club like Blackburn comes in for you, it's a very easy decision to make. I heard a lot about the club from other players and they all said it was a very warm club - very much like the club I played for in Holland, PSV.

"It is a very big club and I want to go forward with them.

"I spoke a lot with Ruud van Nistelrooy and he was very positive about Blackburn.

"He warned me that life in the Premiership was going to be very hard, but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to."