IT'S imperative Blackburn Rovers get off to a good start this season and I am sure everyone at Ewood Park will be hoping for three points against West Brom tomorrow.

There are no easy games in the Premiership but this is one Graeme Souness would have looked at when the fixtures came out knowing that Rovers were capable of winning it.

And the fact that tough trips to Southampton and Arsenal follow and then a home match against Manchester United, it adds more importance to getting off to a winning start.

Naturally, I'll be rooting for Rovers but I am delighted to see West Brom back in the Premiership. I spent 18 months at The Hawthorns and the club has got fantastic support -- and you can bet they pack out the Darwen End on Saturday.

Rovers will need to improve on their dreadful home form of last season if they are to avoid another relegation scrap.

But I think Graeme will have learnt his lesson and, with the new players he has brought in, a realistic target would be a top half of the table finish.

I mentioned last week that my preferred midfield four would be skipper Barry Ferguson and Tugay in the middle with fit again David Thompson and new boy Javier de Pedro operating on the flanks.

So what about the rest of my starting eleven for the first game?

Well it goes without saying that Brad Friedel would be my number one choice and the signs are that he will be fit to play. If he isn't, I have every faith in Peter Enckelman, who has looked pretty solid in pre-season.

If fit, Lucas Neill more or less picks himself at right back, especially with Steven Reid injured, while Michael Gray gets my vote ahead of Vratislav Gresko at left back.

The central defence is another area where we are a bit thin on the ground so I would go with the solid and dependable Craig Short and Lorenzo Amoruso who did well when he came back from injury last season.

Despite Dwight Yorke settling his differences with the manager, I would still go with youngsters Jonathan Stead and Paul Gallagher as my preferred option up front.

Gallagher has a bit to prove but he deserves to be given a chance, while I am certain Stead will show he was no flash-in-the-pan last season and will continue to score goals.

New recruit Paul Dickov offers valuable experience but I am not sure if he has 90 minutes in him -- especially at the beginning of the season when the games are coming thick and fast.

So that just leaves me to wish the players all the best for the new season -- and let's try to get off to winning start!