BLACKBURN Rovers defender Chris Samba insists he's not frightened by the Premier League's deadliest goal-machines as the club make a late final push for Europe.

Despite dropping two precious points in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Ewood Park, Rovers' European hopes are far from being dead and buried.

Although their challenge for a UEFA Cup spot looks over - sitting nine points behind fifth-placed Everton - Mark Hughes' men are still in the hunt for an Intertoto Cup berth.

They are just two points behind Portsmouth in sixth and, if Harry Redknapp's side beat Cardiff in next month's FA Cup final, then Blackburn must finish ahead of Aston Villa and Manchester City to qualify for the latter.

Rovers, however, must do it the hard way if they are to enjoy European football for a third successive season, as they face Liverpool and Manchester United in the run-in.

Sunday's trip to Anfield, where Rovers have failed to win in the league since September 1993, comes first, before locking horns with leaders United at Ewood Park the following Saturday.

It is perhaps not the best of times for Samba and his defensive team-mates to come up against the two North West giants, with 37-goal Cristiano Ronaldo in scintillating form for the Red Devils, and Fernando Torres blasting an incredible 10 goals in Liverpool's last six Premier League games at Anfield.

But while the respective Portuguese and Spanish hitmen leave countless defenders suffering sleepless nights, Samba is fired up for the challenge ahead.

"It's what it is all about," said the giant Congo centre-back.

"It's why I play football, and it's why I came to play in the English Premier League. It was my dream.

"Everybody wants to play against the best players, to prove that we are also among the best players. For me, it's to prove I'm among the best defenders.

"When we play against good players, we have to keep ourselves focused and be mentally prepared for the challenge.

"But it's going to be exciting over the next few weeks."

With an Intertoto Cup spot remaining a realistic shot, Samba insists Rovers must look to take maximum points from their last five cup final' matches.

But the former Hertha Berlin defender believes Blackburn must raise their game during the run-in, especially in the final third.

"Of course we can make it to Europe," he added.

"We've got five league games left and, for me, they are like five consecutive cup finals.

"We need a good finish to the season. We will give it everything we can and do our best, and we'll see at the end if it is good enough.

"But I think we have to improve in some areas.

"Our last pass has not always been exact and we need to work on that to create more chances."

Furthermore, Samba has revealed that he is working hard to add more consistency to his own game.

By his own admission, the towering 24-year-old has not quite reached the heights of last season - his first in the Premier League - adding: "It's my first really poor season.

"I have to work on my consistency a little bit more during the season.

"It's not easy to keep up your performance in every game, but I am working on it and I can only get better."