BULLISH Blackburn manager Mark Hughes today said he believes it is possible for a club like Rovers to break into the top four this season.

The Rovers chief, who takes his side to Stamford Bridge this afternoon to face Chelsea, reckons the race for Champions League places this term will not be the procession it has been in previous years.

Aside from Everton, who managed to qualify for the Champions League in 2005, the race for the top four has been dominated by the big guns of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool since the turn of century.

But after a record summer of spending in the Premiership, Hughes insists several of the chasing pack are now better equipped to threaten the big four's dominance.

Speaking ahead of today's clash at the Bridge, where Rovers are hoping to end Chelsea's 65-match unbeaten home league record, an up-beat Hughes said: "More often than not in recent seasons, the top four have been the top four and it's become a league within a league, and no-one else has been able to break into it and cause them a problem.

"It's more a case of them knocking each other out and beating themselves, while the rest of us have been looking on and admiring what they are achieving.

"But I think that has changed this season. A number of clubs feel they can now go up against the top teams and give them a real go.

"Maybe in the past the champions have been able to go through a season and only lose a maximum of two or three times.

"But maybe that figure will be higher this year."

Although Hughes expects the Premier League to be far more competitive this season, he insists it will take an almighty effort for a club outside of the big four to finish in one of the Champions League places.

"It's very difficult, I have to say, but Everton have proved it is possible," said the Welshman.

"It gets harder and harder every year to do it but, saying that, I think more clubs are capable of taking points off the top four than possibly has been the case in previous seasons.

"And because of that, maybe the ability to break into that top four becomes a more realistic ambition because teams can take points off the top four."