EWOOD enforcer Garry Flitcroft is facing a battle to be fit for Saturday's 'monster' Premiership battle with Charlton Athletic.
The tough-tackling skipper missed Tuesday night's Worthington Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough after suffering a recurrence of his niggling groin injury.
And the 28-year-old midfield was today due to see a specialist in a bid to get to the root of the problem in a desperate attempt to put himself back in contention for the visit of the Addicks.
"It's the same problem that's been troubling me for a while," said Flitcroft.
"When I initially suffered a tear I then played against Liverpool and tore it again.
"But now some of the scar tissue from where it healed has attached itself to the bone and it's very painful whenever I play.
"So we've now got to decide whether I should have an injection or see if I can play through it.
"But if I have an injection then that would mean I'd miss the Charlton game because you've got to rest for three days afterwards."
If Flitcroft fails to make it that would come as a massive blow to manager Graeme Souness who is already facing the prospect of going into his side's biggest game of the season so far without two key players.
Defensive duo Craig Short and Lucas Neill are both definite non-starters after being hit by suspensions.
Short will start a four game ban at the weekend after Rovers failed in their bid to get his red card against Sunderland overturned.
And Neill misses the Charlton game after picking up a one game ban as a result of totting up five bookings.
However, Matt Jansen and Henning Berg should both return to boost Souness's plans.
Both missed the 2-1 at Hillsborough due to niggles. Berg was rested altogether after complaining of back trouble while Jansen was an unused sub after Souness took the decision to rest his leading scorer following his recent ankle problems.
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