With the two sides meeting just three days later at Ewood Park in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final, both Allardyce and opposite number Martin O'Neill are likely to rest their top players on Saturday.

Rovers have some good news on the injury front with David Dunn back in full training and Brett Emerton set for a late fitness test after the groin injury which cut short his Christmas schedule.

Dunn has not featured for the first team since limping out of the goalless draw against Stoke City a month ago with a calf strain.

Vince Grella is still recuperating from his thigh problem, but Franco Di Santo is available after extending his loan deal from Chelsea.

Provisional squad: Robinson, Olsson, Chimbonda, Jacobsen, Nelsen, Samba, Salgado, Pedersen, Givet, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Andrews, Emerton, Dunn, Di Santo, Roberts, McCarthy, Kalinic, Diouf, Jones, Brown, Van Heerden, Rigters.