FORMER Manchester United defender John Curtis has warned his Rovers team-mates to prepare for a backlash tonight as the Premier League champions get ready to roll into town.

Curtis, who quit United for Rovers last summer in a £1.5 million deal, detected the odd chink in his old club's armoury on Sunday as the Reds scraped past Fulham in a five-goal thriller at Old Trafford.

But, after a severe dressing down from manager Alex Ferguson, Curtis believes that criticism is sure to provoke a positive response.

And he fears Rovers could be the ones to feel the full force unless his new team-mates can rise to the challenge of trying to match the former treble winners.

"It's difficult to criticise Manchester United after all they've achieved but you could argue they've got one or two weaknesses and perhaps they were a bit more evident on Sunday than they have been in the past," said Curtis.

"But they're all fantastic players and you know the manager's had a go at them because of what's been said in the Press.

"So that doesn't bode well for us because they're all top players and they'll want to do better at the next opportunity and that next opportunity just so happens to be against us."

That said, however, Curtis believes Rovers are still more than capable of getting a result on the night.

And, though United remain firm favourites with the bookies to retain their crown following the £50 million summer signings of Juan Veron and Ruud van Nistelrooy, former England Under 21 international Curtis believes the title race is far from a foregone conclusion.

"There's six or seven teams now -- like the Liverpools, the Leeds, the Chelseas and the Manchester Uniteds -- who all seem to be getting closer and closer," said Curtis.

"So I don't think United are going to enjoy the kind of monoploy they've had in the past because it's getting tighter and tighter and at the end of the day no-one's unbeatable.

"I know people say the rugby ball's a different shape and anything can happen but it can with a football as well.

"How Derby managed to get three points against us, for instance, was amazing.

"And Fulham were arguably very, very unlucky against United on Sunday, too.

"So anything can happen on the day, you just need that little bit of luck."

Whatever happens tonight, however, Curtis insists he has nothing to prove on a personal level, despite Fergie's decision to let him go last summer when Rovers came knocking.

"I think everyone at Manchester United knew I was a half decent player otherwise I wouldn't have been there in the first place.

"And if I wasn't then, then I feel I proved I was half decent last season through my performances with Blackburn.

"So I don't feel I've got anything to prove to anyone."

One man who will want to test just how far Curtis has come in the last 12 months, though, is United winger Ryan Giggs.

And the Rovers defender admits he could be in for a busy night.

"Giggsy's a fantastic player -- I always thought that when I was at United," said Curtis.

"He was one of, if not the best, player at the club at the time.

"He's very, very creative and very quick but then everyone knows all about him because he's such a special player.

"He's very difficult to stop once he gets in full flow so I'll have to be at my best to try and stop him.

"I constantly had the likes of Giggsy, Andy Cole, Jesper Blomquist and Jordi Cryuff all running at me in training.

"But it was great practice and it stood me in good stead because you have to do the hard graft if you want to reap the benefits yourself in this game."