Blackburn Rovers have two places up for grabs in their starting XI on opening night against Derby County.

John Eustace's side are gearing up for their Championship opener this weekend after completing their pre-season schedule. The win over Stockport County last weekend was a step up and the curtain will be lifted at Ewood Park on Friday. 

The Rovers head coach set his stall out as early as July 6, against Accrington Stanley, with a clear 'first XI' which has continued all throughout pre-season. So there are quite a few certainties ahead of matchday one.

We all know that Aynsley Pears will be in goal. The Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper is the only senior shot-stopper at the club currently with the club still working hard to sign competition. 

Equally, Eustace wants cover at full-back. There is little to no doubt that Callum Brittain and Harry Pickering will line-up for Rovers this weekend. They need some competition, to cover for injuries as much as anything else.

Hayden Carter and Dom Hyam have been the first-choice pairing. The game will come too soon for Kyle McFadzean and Danny Batth who are both fit and training but need match minutes.

In midfield, Sondre Tronstad and Lewis Travis have been the clear preferred pairing. They provide the protection, fight and mobility that Eustace clearly values in the centre of the park.

It will be the former's first start at Ewood Park since November 29 last year. Even that was filling in at right-back against Birmingham City. October 1 2023 was the last time he got the nod in midfield in a Rovers Championship home game.

Joe Rankin-Costello has started every match in pre-season in a narrow right position with Brittain providing the width on that side. I'd expect that to continue.

Now we get on to the elephant in the room, Sam Szmodics. The impression I was left with was that he won't be involved but, at best, could be on the bench.

His availability will have an impact on where Tyrhys Dolan plays. If Szmodics is deemed fit and in the right place mentally to start, he'll take the spot on the left-hand side.

If not, then Dolan will play down the middle, in the number 10 role. That leaves a question mark over who gets the left-wing role.

Ryan Hedges is Eustace's first choice but I'm intrigued to see whether he'll be risked. The winger hasn't played more than 45 minutes in pre-season, though he started at Stockport County.

Andi Weimann might be fit enough for the bench but no more, making it a straight shoot-out between the two.

Rovers are being particularly cautious with the Welshman because of his recent hamstring issues. Therefore, I think in an ideal world, they'd rather start him on the bench and ease him into the intensity of the Championship.

But the other thing to consider is that Arnor Sigurdsson has missed some of pre-season too. He did return after a groin issue against Stockport, playing the second half.

"We'll have to look at who is available, it will be early for a couple of them, at least" Eustace told The Lancashire Telegraph on the new signings.

"Hedges came off at half-time last week, there's a lot of football to be played in the next months. He's missed a couple of days this week too."

So you're flipping a coin to decide who is more match fit, assuming Szmodics doesn't start and Dolan's in the middle. If Hedges hasn't trained, then it's likely Sigurdsson will get the nod.

Then it's a straight shoot-out between Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi for the number nine spot. Both had 45 minutes against Stockport but you lean towards the former as the likely starter.

Predicted Rovers XI: Pears; Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering; Travis, Tronstad; Rankin-Costello, Dolan, Sigurdsson; Gueye.