GRAEME Souness was today sweating on the fitness of influential skipper Garry Flitcroft ahead of Saturday's high-noon showdown with Liverpool at Ewood.

Flitcroft has undergone intensive treatment on a groin injury over the last 10 days in a desperate attempt to declare himself fit for the clash.

But the tough-tackling 28-year-old only rated his chances as 50/50 this morning before he attempted to train for the first time in 10 days.

"I had a scan the other day and it showed the injury has nearly healed," said Flitcroft.

"So I need to train today and then I'll know if I have a chance of making it or not.

"At this stage I've got to say I'm probably only 50/50.

"But I'll only really know how far I've come once I try it out because it could just go again if I try to kick a ball."

If Flitcroft fails to recover, that will come as a major blow to Souness as he plots the downfall of his former club.

But the boss is hopeful of being able to recall winger Damien Duff after a two month absence with a hamstring injury.

"He's in the squad to play Liverpool and there's a chance Duffer might feature," said Souness.

"He's a top player and we've missed his presence badly although we've done okay so far.

"The injury was a frustrating one for him because we just expected Damien to be ruled out for a couple of weeks, but instead we ended up losing him for two months.

"He has trained okay this week though and providing he doesn't have any problems then he could play a part against Liverpool."

Meanwhile, midfield playermaker Tugay became the latest Rovers player to book his ticket to next summer's World Cup finals last night.

The former Rangers star played a starring role in Turkey's 5-0 play-off win over Austria in Istanbul -- a result which took his side through 6-0 on aggregate.

It's the first time the Turks have qualified for the final stages of the competition since the 1950s.

And Tugay now looks certain to join Ewood team-mate Brad Friedel -- who has already qualified with the United States -- in Japan.

Whether or not Duff and Alan Kelly will join them depends on the result of the second leg of the Republic of Ireland's play-off with Iran in Tehran tonight.

Mick McCarthy's men lead 2-0 from the first leg, thanks to goals from Leeds United duo Ian Harte and Robbie Keane.

Elsewhere, Shefki Kuqi's move to Ewood is now back in the balance after Mark Hughes turned down the chance of a loan move to Edgeley Park.

As we revealed yesterday, new County boss Carlton Palmer wanted the veteran striker on a temporary basis in exchange for sanctioning Kuqi's move to Rovers.

However, Hughes has subseqently rejected the notion although he has not closed the door on the idea completely if his situation at Ewood was to change in the future.