MIDDLESBROUGH boss Bryan Robson is ready for a relegation battle if his side fail to pick up points in crunch home games against Leicester and Bradford.

Robson yesterday admitted that third-bottom Boro will be embroiled in a fight for Premiership survival unless they arrest their slide in the next week.

High-flying Leicester, with England caretaker-coach Peter Taylor back at the helm after his midweek duties in Italy, today stand between beleaguered Boro and their first win in seven games.

But with chairman Steve Gibson squarely behind him, Robson has underlined his determination to fight on - whatever the immediate future holds.

The mood of the fans is sure to have a major bearing on Robson's position and the Boro boss knows there is no hiding place.

He stressed: "We've got an important week and we need to take as many points as we can from the next two home games.

"But it's certainly not a six-points-or-bust situation.

"The only thing these games will decide is whether we're going to be fighting against relegation this season or whether we're going to be fighting to get into the top half of the table.

"We know it's going to be hard to break Leicester down. They've only conceded eight goals this season, but they've only scored 11.

"They're well-organised and we're going to have to be patient.

"Leicester have won cup competitions in recent years and gained confidence from that. They've got some good players and they're a disciplined side.

"But we've got most of our squad fit now and this will be about the strongest side I've put out.''

Key men Alen Boksic, Paul Ince and Ugo Ehiogu are in the frame after injury lay-offs and joined by Paul Okon, who proved his fitness in Australia's win over Scotland on Wednesday.

"All of them are clear of injuries now, but it's a question of match fitness,'' said Robson.

"Putting them all in together would be a risk, especially against a team like Leicester who work their socks off.''

Robson, encouraged by single-goal defeats at the hands of Arsenal and Manchester United, is looking to Boksic to fire Boro clear of trouble.

The £2.5m Croatian ace, who came on as a second-half substitute at Old Trafford last week, makes his first start for over a month since straining knee ligaments in the 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle.

Boksic has five goals from six starts and Robson believes his side would have been in the top half had injuries and illness not taken a toll on the former Lazio striker's season.

Groin trouble and a virus have added to his problems this term, and Robson said: "If he'd been available more often, I think we would have been higher in the table.

"Alen got half an hour or so against Man. United and he's fine.

"It would be nice for him to get his first goal at home - but getting our first home win in the league is more important.

"I haven't said much to the lads since the Man. United game because they know how important the next two games are.

"They've gained a lot of heart from the Arsenal and Man. United games.

"They know they competed against the two best teams in the country.

"They did themselves justice, but they know they've got to do that week in, week out.

"We can't relax. We've got make sure we compete against Leicester, too.''

Robson is calling on the fans to reproduce the backing they gave their side in the home game against Arsenal, when Boro lost 1-0 with ten men.

"I would just ask the fans to be the same as they were then,'' said Robson. "I'm hoping one win will start the bandwagon rolling.

"I think the fans were at a low ebb because of the expectations at the start of the season.

"Now they've realised that things don't happen automatically and they're supporting the team again.

"With a lot of the lads coming back from injury, if we do well in these two home games I think we'll go forward.

"If we don't do well, the confidence is not going to be high, we'll be down there for a reason and the boys will have to start fighting hard to get out of the relegation zone.''

Robson has named transfer-listed defender Gianluca Festa in his squad.

"I've had not enquiries for him,'' said Robson, who agreed to the Italian's transfer request this week.

"It wasn't a shock because, once you've built up a decent-sized squad, some players become unsettled.

"I'll still consider Gianluca and if nobody comes in for him he'll have to knuckle down.

"If I ask him to go into the team, he'll have to do a job for us and I think he proved in the reserves the other night that he'll do that.

"He gave a whole-hearted, committed performance.''