DAVID Bentley reckons Blackburn Rovers couldn't be in better shape to spring a surprise on champions Chelsea.

The midfielder says the squad now has the mental and physical attributes to inflict a first defeat of the Premiership season on Jose Mourinho's runaway leaders.

"Chelsea are the best team in the country and it will be tough going there, but we'll all enjoy it," said Bentley.

"Football is all about how players react and our players are all in really good places at the moment.

"Some players have to be uptight and others need to be more relaxed for games like this, but everyone here is focused, in their own heads, on what they have to do.

"It's a happy environment because we're winning and everyone is buzzing, so it's a really good time to be here.

"We all want to progress to the next level so that's why we will be going out there looking for the three points."

Despite the millions Roman Abramovich has pumped into Stamford Bridge to assemble the country's most formidable squad, Rovers are starting to show a real strength in depth of their own.

Bentley himself had to drop to the bench in midweek to make way for Brett Emerton, who scored the opening goal in the 3-0 Carling Cup win over Leeds.

And this victory was inspired by Craig Bellamy, who set up all the goals after coming on as a second half substitute.

Bentley said: "The strength in depth is there. Players like Bellamy and Steven Reid have been on the bench, and David Thompson and Lorenzo Amoruso are still to come back so you can see it in the players who are either in the background or out injured.

"Squad rotation is a major part of the game now and there are a few players in my position.

"Brett Emerton has to play football so I've got no worries about that, he came in and did a good job.

"The main thing is the results. The game is results driven, and we've been getting them so it's good times at the moment.

"It's about building a club and building something for the future and hopefully this is the start of something."

On a personal level, although Bentley has been involved in a run of four wins in five games prior to Tuesday, he still feels he's way short of his best form.

But now he feels more settled he hopes it won't be long before he's back to his creative best.

He said: "My football is probably only 40 per cent at the moment so there's a lot more to come.

"It's just been a case of players getting used to me and me getting used to them, and being comfortable in this environment.

"But I'm really glad I've found this club and hopefully it won't be long until I'm fully at my level."