West Bromwich Albion travel to Ewood Park as they look to secure their fourth win on the bounce and keep hold of their automatic promotion spot, against Blackburn Rovers.
The Baggies cruised past an in-form Derby County side at The Hawthorns in midweek, to strengthen their position in the promotion race. In those three successive victories, Slaven Bilic's side have found the net nine times as they push for a return to the Premier League.
Blackburn came from behind twice to claim all three points against play-off rivals Cardiff City. A run of three consecutive league defeats before Tuesday night's win has left Tony Mowbray's men five points adrift from sixth place with just four games left to play.
With a lot riding on Saturday afternoon’s result and expectation aplenty for West Brom, Mowbray will sense that there is an opportunity to claim a crucial result over one of his former clubs, with his side back in the win column and the playoff hunt.
Team news
Left-back Elliott Bennet looks set to start this weekend in one of two changes to Tuesday night's starting XI, with midfielder Lewis Holtby also likely return and replace Bradley Johnson as a starter.
Bilic could make one change to the side that beat Derby in midweek with young midfielder Rekeem Harper pushing for a recall ahead of Jake Livermore. Ahmed Hegazy remains suspended while full-backs Nathan Ferguson and Kieran Gibbs are injured.
Predicted line-ups
Blackburn Rovers (4-3-3): Walton; Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bennett; Travis, Downing, Johnson; Samuel, Graham, Armstrong.
West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; O'Shea, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Livermore, Sawyers; Diangana, Pereira, Grosicki; Austin.
Ones to watch
Blackburn Rovers – Adam Armstrong
Armstrong has netted 14 Sky Bet Championship goals this season for Mowbray’s side, his latest coming against Cardiff, hitting a spectacular first-time shot from distance which proved to be the winner.
The forward has been in good form since the restart, scoring three goals in five games despite his side’s indifferent form.
West Bromwich Albion – Dara O’Shea
O’Shea netted his second Sky Bet Championship goal with a header in the 2-0 against Derby last time out.
Since the young full-back returned to Albion’s starting XI, they have won three consecutive games, beating Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and of course Derby.
O’Shea has played in 13 league games for the Baggies this season - and he has repaid his manager’s faith so far, with Albion having lost just two league games when the Irishman has played.
Last time out
The last time these two sides faced off was back in August as the Baggies came out on top in an exciting 3-2 win at The Hawthorns.
All five goals were scored in a frantic first-half. Bradley Dack fired the away side into an early lead before three fantastic strikes from Matt Phillips, Livermore and Grady Diangana turned the game around
Johnson struck back in first-half injury time to haul Blackburn into the contest at the break, but a goalless second 45 ensured the points stayed with the Baggies.
The victory over Rovers was Albion’s first against them since 2012, but overall they have had the stronger record in this fixture, winning 50% of their meetings.
