IN-FORM Blackburn Rovers head for a test of their mettle in the steel city tomorrow convinced promotion back to the Premiership remains within their grasp.

After a disastrous start to the season, Rovers climbed up to 11th-place on the back of an unbeaten seven-match run which was good enough to land Tony Parkes the manager's job on a permanent basis.

Before today's fixtures, Rovers were four points outside the top six.

And a win at struggling Sheffield United in front of the Sky cameras (kick-off 1.00) would set Parkes' men up nicely for a concerted push over the Christmas programme.

Rovers defender Simon Grayson said: "We feel we are playing well at the moment and the confidence is high.

"We've got that sort of factor in us now and it's spreading throughout the team. Long may it continue.

"Even a month ago we said that we had the capabilites of going on a run like this, throughout the season some time.

"Now it's happened we're only four or five points off the play-off positions and once we get into them then anything can happen.

"This division is really cut-and-thrust. Everybody's beating each other and there isn't one team that's going to walk away with it."

Parkes may be forced into one change and may make a further one by choice for the trip to Bramall Lane, where United will be looking to build on their first League win under new manager Neil Warnock a fortnight ago.

Darren Peacock is struggling to overcome a virus and may have to step down from the back four, with his place possibly going to Martin Taylor. However, Damien Duff, having shaken off the same bug, could return on the left flank in place of Callum Davidson. Alan Kelly and Nathan Blake will be returning to their former club where Grayson expects a tough game against a side hoping to break clear of the relegation zone on the back of a promised period of much-needed stability.

"They are a big club that's been going through a lot of trouble at boardroom level and with a new manager now," Grayson added.

"But it is a difficult game because they will be looking to impress the new manager which is the same sort of scenario we had six weeks ago.

"But we are full of confidence at the moment and we feel as though we won't get beaten by anyone."

Blackburn from: Kelly, Grayson, Harkness, Carsley, Dailly, Taylor, McAteer, Frandsen, Ward, Blake, Duff, Kenna, Ostenstad, Johnson, Jansen, Davidson, Filan (gk).

United will have skipper Lee Sandfordback after suspension, but Bruno Rebeiro is doubtful with a knee injury.

Sheffield United from: Tracey, Ford, Kozluk, Quinn, Murphy, Derry, Sandford, Gijsbrechts, Devlin, Woodhouse, Hunt, Hamilton, Ribeiro, Bent, Smith, Katchouro, Axel, Smeets, Doane, Duke, Cullen.

Third choice keeper Alan Fettis is set to become the next player to be off-loaded by Tony Parkes.

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