BLACKBURN Rovers' under 17s will play Aston Villa under 17s in a national play-off semi-final tie at Brockhall tomorrow (kick off 3 pm).

Last Saturday, Rovers beat Southampton 3-1 away in the quarter-finals.

Yesterday, Villa entertained Sheffield United and won 6-0.

Villa, knocked Rovers out of the FA Youth Cup at the semi-final stage, before losing to Middlesborough in the final.

But Rovers are confident of gaining revenge and their recent success in the Dallas Cup, where they also reached the semi-finals, should stand them in good stead.

"That was a great experience for our lads. To get the chance to go away to a place like America and spend a week together is invaluable because you learn more about your players in those situations than you might do in three years," said Rovers' Academy director Bobby Downes.

"We performed well while we were out there, especially considering we didn't take our strongest possible squad.

"People like Alex Bruce did well and he'll be all the better for the experience."