JOHN Filan will put an operation on hold in order to solve Tony Parkes's goalkeeping crisis.

The Aussie stopper has been told he needs surgery on a persistent shoulder problem which will keep him out for up to three months.

But the former Coventry man will delay going under the knife and try and play through the painbarrier until Alan Kelly recovers from his ankle injury.

"It's very sore at the minute but, with injections and stuff, I'm hoping I can get through it," said Filan.

"I've seen a specialist and he said I need an operation on it which I was hoping to have if Alan Kelly was still fit.

"But in view of the current situation, I'm going to put that on hold for as long as it will last out.

"The club are aware of it and if Tony Parkes wants to pick me then I'm prepared to give it a go.

"I trained yesterday and I'll train again over the next couple of days and, provided there's no more reaction, then I'm hoping to play."

Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis is also on stand-by in case he breaks down.

Meanwhile, Parkes has set his sights on taking the play-off route back into the Premiership, after insisting that automatic promotion is out of reach.

Rovers go into Monday's clash against Wolves on the back of successive victories over Christmas and a run of just one defeat in nine League games.

But Parkes believes the disastrous start to the season has left Blackburn with too much to do and is concentrating his energies on a top-six spot.

He said: "The top two looks out of reach. We are just looking at Stockport because they are the sixth team. And if we get to sixth we might be looking at Barnsley. "We are just looking and hoping that along the way there will be more than one top-six spot available.

"We have got ourselves into a position where we want to be. Now we just want to get into that top-six as soon as possible."

In-form Rovers are 11 points adrift of second-placed Huddersfield with a game in hand.

However, with the likes of Ipswich and Charlton also well clear, Parkes' assessment, although perhaps deliberately cautious, would appear to be correct.

And Parkes' men can't afford to take their eye of the ball if they are to sustain their play-off challenge with top-six rivals Wolves, one point worse off, to provide the next step.

"They are a tough side and an experienced side. It will be a hard game because they are looking to get into the play-offs as well but we hope we can keep our home form going," added Parkes, who will be forced to change a winning side because of injuries and suspension.

Striker Ashley Ward won't play for up to eight weeks because of a dislocated shoulder.

And Jason McAteer is also ruled out through suspension but Per Frandsen is set to return in his place after missing the trip to Fratton Park with flu.

However, Nathan Blake isn't expected to be fit which could allow Matt Jansen to start his first game under Parkes if the boss reverts to a 4-4-2 line-up.

Rovers from: Filan, Fettis, Kenna, Taylor, Dailly, Davidson, Johnson, Frandsen, Dunn, Carsley, Duff, Ostenstad, Jansen, Grayson, Peacock, Harkness.

Wolves were set to choose from: Oakes, Muscat, Naylor, Curle, Pollet, Bazeley, Emblen, Robinson, Sinton, Akinbiyi, Branch, Corica, Stowell, Flo, Sedgley, Taylor, Green

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