BLACKBURN Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen today said he would rather win the UEFA Cup this season than qualify for the Champions League.

The Norwegian international, who is relishing tomorrow's clash with the Greek side Larissa, insists there is a growing belief within the Rovers camp that they can mount a serious challenge for silverware this season.

And the 26-year-old wideman believes winning a competition like the UEFA Cup would personally mean more to him than breaking into the top four in the Premiership and qualifying for the Champions League.

Pedersen, who has been an ever-present in Mark Hughes' starting line-up so far this term, said: "Of course, it would be a dream to get into the top four.

"I think if you were to ask all the teams from 10th in the table upwards, every one of them would say they want to be in the top four for the Champions League.

"We've had a good start and we've put ourselves in a good position. If we can keep going in this way then, of course, there will be a chance.

"Two years ago, we were two points away from a Champions League place, so you can see how close it is, and I think we can do the same again, if not better, because we are a better team now than we were then.

"But if you were to ask me would I rather qualify for the Champions League or win the UEFA Cup?' then I'd say win the UEFA Cup.

"If we were to win that, then that would mean we've had a good season in the league as well."

Pedersen has every reason to feel confident as Rovers are currently unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions, an impressive run stretching back to April 15, when they were narrowly defeated by Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Since then, Hughes' side have won nine and drawn six, both at home and in Europe, and having recently taken points off two of the 'big four' in Chelsea and Arsenal, Pedersen believes the rest of the football world are now starting to look on Rovers as a major force to be reckoned with.

"People can now see that we are doing well and maybe they see us as a team they have to look out for," said the Norwegian.

"People are starting to say we play good football, whereas two or three years ago they were just talking about us kicking people.

"But that's never a part of our game - kicking people. We want to play football and I think we've shown this season that we can play really good football.

"That's why we've got the results that we have, and we've got a good squad together here now.

"We are 15 games unbeaten now and although every time you win a game, you are closer to a defeat, as long as we keep working hard for each other and go out on the pitch believing in ourselves then we are going to be hard to beat, whoever we play against."