GRAEME Souness has admitted Blackburn Rovers will struggle to repeat last season's magnificent sixth-placed finish.
With just five days to go before the big kick-off, Souness insists his squad IS stronger on paper than it was at this stage last season, despite the summer sales of Damien Duff and David Dunn.
However, the Ewood chief has stressed that Rovers' first aim this term must still be survival rather than the push for a Champions League place that many fans are hoping for.
"Hand on heart, I can't see us getting sixth again and I can't see us improving on that," said Souness.
"Just look at the teams who are around us and look at their incomes.
"Look at their turnovers compared to ours. I know I'll get stick for saying it but the punters should look at the balance sheets of clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle.
"They are all far bigger football clubs than us and then if you look over your shoulder and down the league, the likes of Aston Villa and Tottenham are far bigger than us as well.
"They've all improved during the summer and one team has changed their manager, too, so it's going to be a very difficult season and our aim this year has to be to survive.
"The first challenge is to get to 40 points and then after that we must try and get more points than we did last season and see where it takes us.
"But 40 points is our first aim."
While the likes of Chelsea have been splashing out millions on strengthening their squad, Souness has been forced to sell two of his most creative forces in Duff and Dunn.
However, the Rovers boss is delighted with the four new faces he has brought in over the summer.
And he has backed Lorenzo Amoruso, Steven Reid, Brett Emerton and Vratislav Gresko to be smash hits in the Premiership.
"I've got a lot of confidence in the group of players I've got here," said Souness.
"I think we are stronger on paper than this time last year but being stronger on paper doesn't necessarily get you points."
But Souness is keeping his fingers crossed that the former England striker can make a quick recovery.
The Rovers boss said: "Andy has been in discomfort, but things seem to be very much on the better side and I would think he will be back in full training well in time for the build up to the opening Premiership game with Wolves on Saturday."
Steven Reid is also 'quietly optimistic' that he could be fit for the game, too, after twisting his ankle in last week's friendly win against Bray Wanderers.
Meanwhile, Andy Cole is hoping to be fit for Saturday's Premiership opener against Wolves at Ewood.
Cole has missed Rovers' last two friendlies after picking up an Achilles injury.
Rovers have yet to receive any inquiries for Andy Todd, who asked for a transfer last week.
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