BLACKBURN Rovers are sweating on the availability of Brett Emerton for Saturday's Premiership opener against Wolves at Ewood.

Graeme Souness's £2.2 million summer signing from Feyenoord currently has a suspension hanging over him from his time in Holland which could result in him missing the opening day of the season.

But Rovers have called in the FA in an attempt to get the suspension 'lifted' in time to clear him to play against Wanderers.

Ewood officials only received notification of the ban last week - a month after they signed the Australian international.

Emerton picked up the suspension after receiving a yellow card in the Dutch Cup final last season.

That was his second caution of the tournament and under Dutch rules that should result in a one match ban.

However, Rovers are arguing that the suspension should only apply to cup competitions and not the Premiership as it would take five cautions to result in a suspension in this country.

And now FIFA have got involved to make a ruling as Emerton's Premiership debut threatens to get caught up in red tape.

"We are working very hard to try and find a solution," said Ewood chief executive John Williams today.

"It's a very complicated situation. After we signed Brett we received notification from our FA who had received notification from the Dutch FA that Brett was suspended after he got booked in the Dutch Cup final last season."

"In Holland the disciplinary system for Cup games and league games is different.

"If you get suspended in the Cup then you miss a Cup game and vice versa.

"So we are challenging the decision and we've asked the FA to support our case because we don't think it's fair that Brett should miss a league game for picking up two bookings.

"The FA have now referred it to FIFA and we are hoping to get a ruling later today."

"But we just hope our interpretation of the laws is correct because it would be a blow for us if Brett was missing for the first day."

Meanwhile, Torpedo Moscow continue to show an interest in out of favour striker Ciccio Grabbi although no formal offer has yet been tabled.