Striker Roque Santa Cruz has not shaken off the calf injury which forced him to miss the victory over Stoke while Grella will also have to wait a little longer for his return.

Meanwhile, midfielder David Dunn believes defensive solidity will be key to Rovers' survival bid over the rest of the season.

The Lancashire club began life under new manager Sam Allardyce with a 3-0 victory over Stoke last weekend, and in the process managed to record a first clean sheet in 12 games.

And Dunn insists it is no coincidence that a long-overdue win and shutout came at the same time.

"If we can go into every game and get those clean sheets, then we have players in our side that are always going to create chances and goals for each other," he said.

"So if our main focus is to go into games with the attitude of 'let's get a clean sheet and let's not get beaten', then I think it gives you a good platform to go on from there."

Dunn claims he in enjoying life under Allardyce, despite rejecting 'Big Sam' during his time as Bolton boss, when he instead opted for Ewood Park in January 2007.

"I nearly signed for Bolton before I signed back here, but fortunately for me Blackburn came in at the 11th hour," said Dunn, a boyhood Rovers fan.

"Sam and I chatted after I signed here and we were both aware that as soon as Blackburn made that approach and it was accepted, that I was only going to go to one place.

"He fully understood that and it is water under the bridge now I'm sure."

Despite the fanfare which accompanied last weekend's result on his first appearance in the Rovers dugout, Allardyce believes the hard work lies ahead as his team look to move out of the relegation zone - starting with tomorrow's trip to a resurgent Sunderland.

"I am really pleased we managed to get off to a winning start, that was very important," he said.

"But as we all know, players included, it is only a small hurdle we have overcome.

"We had a fantastic result on Saturday but had we not won that game we would be bottom of the league today.

"We now need to be able to string together an undefeated run, starting with two very important games against Sunderland away and Manchester City at Ewood Park.

"We've got to keep the ball rolling from the victory against Stoke and come away with some points."

Striker Roque Santa Cruz has not shaken off the calf injury which forced him to miss the victory over Stoke while Australian midfielder Vince Grella has recovered from the hamstring injury which has kept him out since mid-November but is now sidelined by a virus.