Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid has admitted the fear of playing in next season's Intertoto Cup is driving Rovers on to claim a top-six finish in the Premiership.
Seven clubs have applied to enter the competition, with manager Mark Hughes' side one of those, as Blackburn are determined to play in Europe next season one way or another.
But as Hughes concedes, the Intertoto Cup is the least attractive of the three options open to Rovers at this stage - even if it has been revamped – as they are firmly in the hunt for a Champions League or UEFA Cup spot.
Under the new Intertoto Cup format, though, England's sole representative would only have to win one two-legged tie in July to reach the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup the following month.
However, it still means an early start to the season and a truncated summer break for the club concerned.
With Blackburn's target fourth place and a Champions League spot, with second prize a UEFA Cup place for finishing fifth or sixth, it is easy to see why the Intertoto Cup has little appeal.
"Last season we were fighting relegation, so to come as far as we have done, if we reached Europe it would be a major achievement," said Irish international Reid.
"At the beginning of the season we had targets, with the main aim to finish in the top half of the table. We've hit all those targets so far, including the 40-point mark a long time ago. If we hit the ones towards the end then we're going to be in Europe.
"Given the position we are in now it would be a disappointment if we didn't do it. We would prefer it if it wasn't the Intertoto Cup because it does make for a long season, so we're not even thinking about it at the moment.
"If needs be, and it's a way of getting into Europe, that is what we will have to do because to play European football would be a major boost for me and the team. But our main aim is a minimum of the UEFA Cup, although with the way we are playing right now, we want Champions League."
