BRETT Emerton reckons Blackburn Rovers can go all the way in the UEFA Cup this season after hailing his team-mates as the Premiership's new crazy gang'.

The Australian international, who is revelling in his new full-back role, believes the spirit at the club has never been better thanks to the comic capers of chief pranksters Robbie Savage and Andy Todd.

Rovers' fun-loving duo took their Mickey taking to a new level last weekend when they starred in spoof home videos on Sky TV's hit show Soccer AM.

First, Todd poked fun at Savage by doing a wacky impersonation of the midfielder, which featured an outrageous blond wig and a slightly dubious Welsh accent.

However, determined not to be out done, Savage quickly got his revenge by filming a clip of his own that saw him take a pop at Todd's liking for karate.

The two videos underlined the great sense of togetherness that clearly exists within Mark Hughes' squad.

And as Wimbledon, the original Crazy Gang', proved in the early 1990s, team spirit like that can take you a long way in football, which is why Emerton believes Rovers have what it takes to make a big impact in Europe this season.

"The spirit within this team is great and it's one of the reasons why I wanted to stay at the club this year," said the versatile Aussie.

"Everyone enjoys themselves out on the training pitch and playing games at the weekend.

"It's always important to have a couple of characters like Sav and Toddy in your team because it makes coming into work a pleasure.

"It just makes it fun and it's great to have boys like that around the place.

"Fortunately, I haven't been on the receiving end of any of their pranks as yet. I've managed to stay away from it and hopefully it will stay that way.

"Sav's the main practical joker. There are a couple of others, but Sav's the one you have to watch out for.

"He's an important part of our team and the work he does in the middle of the park is valuable for us."

Hughes also believes good natured banter is a healthy ingredient to have in any dressing room, although he was quick to point out that didn't think much of Savage's acting skills at the weekend!

"Put it this way, he shouldn't give up his day job," joked the Rovers boss.

"I saw the video (on Soccer AM). Sav made a point of rushing down to show me what he'd been doing in the week.

"I think it shows the spirit which is in the group. The guys are having banter between themselves, but I'm not quite sure they needed to share it with the nation!

"You have to have characters in clubs. You always find at a club there are one or two who enjoy being the centre of attraction and getting the banter going."

That sense of togetherness could well be key this evening as Rovers get down to the more serious business of trying to overcome Wisla Krakow in Poland.

Having comfortably seen off the challenge of Red Bull Salzburg in the previous round, Rovers will be confident of claiming one of the three qualifying places up for grabs in group E, which also features FC Basel, Feyenoord, and Nancy.

Then from there anything is possible, as Emerton discovered in 2002, when he helped lead Feyenoord all the way to the final.

"I played in every game leading up to it but unfortunately I was suspended for the final itself," said the Aussie.

"Nevertheless, it was still a great experience and great to be part of it.

"Although I didn't play in the final, it was probably my fondest memory in football and I'd love to do it again with Blackburn.

"I can't see any reason why we can't have a great run and go all the way. It's a different format to the last time I played in it. Before it was just home and away.

"But as far as I'm concerned, all the teams in this group are beatable. I think we should be strong enough to progress.

"Obviously, I know Feyenoord having played there a few years ago, although the players are different now.

"I think there's possibly only two or three players remaining from my time there.

"As for the rest of the teams, I don't know a great deal about them to be perfectly honest, but we played well against Salzburg in the last round and the confidence has grown throughout the team since then.

"We've put in some very good performances recently so we've now got to try and keep the run going."