Tony Mowbray knows Rovers will need to be at their best defensively if they are to stop an in-form Aston Villa side.

Villa have scored more than anyone in the division at home, while Rovers have conceded the most away goals in the Championship.

But the boss believes Rovers can trouble Dean Smith’s side who, despite being rampant of late, notching up four consecutive wins, have had their own defensive troubles this season.

They have eased lately, with three clean sheets in their last four matches, but Mowbray is looking for side to be positive.

He said: “With the ball we were pretty good at Sheffield Wednesday, caused them plenty of problems, but without the ball we weren’t good enough.

“Let’s see if we can get the balance right this time around. It’s another team who have found some form.

“Aston Villa have a massive squad of players.

“It’s a club that has come out of the Premier League and there might be close to around 40,000 supporters in the stadium this weekend.

“It can be 40,000 fans cheering them on or of course can 40,000 shouting and booing and being negative if they’re getting beat.

“At this moment they are in a good vein of form, beat Middlesbrough 3-0 in the last game and were 4-0 up against Derby earlier this month as well.

“We know it’s a tough game but one we should relish. We put pressure on ourselves to get results in every game of course, but we’ll go there believing that we can go there and get a result, take the game to them and playing on the front foot, because that’s when I believe we’re at our best.

“We’ll go there and be really positive.”

Rovers return to action after the two week international break which Mowbray says has been a mixture of rest and relaxation.

He added: “When you get to this stage of the season, when you’ve had foot on the gas, it’s been difficult for them, as the injuries suggest with their bodies breaking down.

“Every club carries injuries at this time of the year.

“You have to rest the bodies up, but you also have to train and make sure they are ready for the next game.

“We have blocked it off, days in training and blocks of days off and rest, and making sure they get some energy back for the final push.”