MARKUS Olsson has targeted the top six for Christmas, and believes Blackburn Rovers have what it takes to go the distance in the race for promotion.

Only 10 points separate 12th placed Sheffield Wednesday and leaders Derby County in a congested top half of the Championship.

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Rovers, currently seventh ahead of tomorrow's trip to fifth placed Brentford, would move into the play-off positions with a win tomorrow - leapfrogging the Londoners, while they are only seven points off pace-setters Derby after 20 games.

Olsson said the players have not set themselves a specific points target from fixtures over the festive period, with a home game against Charlton Athletic - their FA Cup third round opponents - to play before rounding the year off with a Boxing Day trip to Bolton Wanderers and the visit of Middlesbrough.

But the 26-year-old wants to celebrate Christmas with a top six spot and go into the New Year on a high.

"That would be the best feeling," said the Swede.

"We're around the play-offs and we want to either stay there or get higher."

Rovers have flirted with the promotion positions in recent weeks, but three draws last month on the back of three wins proved frustrating.

"We had the chance before, when we've drawn some games that we should have won," said Olsson.

"It feels like we're so close, we're just a few points behind even the top.

"We should have been in the top six a couple of weeks ago, but we can't be thinking about that too much - just keep on playing and hopefully we will be there for Christmas."

And the left back is confident that, with the experience in the Ewood camp, if they get there they can at least stay there, using their know-how to gain an advantage over their challengers by keeping their composure.

"We looked at the table after 20 games last season compared to this season. Last season Burnley and Leicester took off with more than 10 points compared to the others below, and now it's six points (from sixth) to first place.

"Everyone wants to go up.

"I think some teams will feel the pressure late on. But we've got players who have played in the Premier League and played at the top of the Championship and won't fall under the pressure, even though it's so tight.

"We'll just keep on going and hopefully we'll keep the same mentality and not feel the pressure."

He added: "We'll remain focused and we still want to do better every game. We're not happy that we're around the play-off spots, we want to be higher.

"Even though we're in a good position now and doing well, there's still a lot of the season left. We can't be happy.

"I think that's important because the season doesn't end until May."