If the first international break of the season was a potential stunt to Blackburn Rovers' momentum, the October pause has come at the right time.

John Eustace is happy for the opportunity to reflect, regroup and rest as the second-tier takes its second of three breaks in the first four months. Whilst for supporters (and the media) it can be a tedious period, a lot of clubs welcome the time to hit the breaks.

Back-to-back defeats before the international break have not distorted what has ultimately been a very productive first nine games. But it has slightly taken the shine off and raised a few valid questions, particularly on the strategy or execution of the game plan away from home.

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After successive defeats on the road, there has been a lot of online discussion about potential changes to the team. What should the side look like against Swansea City and perhaps who deserves an opportunity?

For Eustace, he will get a fresh slate to try and work out exactly what his best XI is. You could argue, it's something he hasn't really had the chance to do so far.

With Rovers signing their players in two batches of five in the summer, fitness levels have been staggered. They didn't recruit their first block until the last week of July, stretching into the start of August. Some of those, like Makhtar Gueye, Danny Batth and Kyle McFadzean, hadn't benefitted from a full pre-season.

Then came the second set of cohorts. More players with question marks over their durability if they were to come straight into the side. Rovers have been forced to be cautious with Todd Cantwell but this last month has shown that when fit and firing, he makes the best XI.

Someone like Amario Cozier-Duberry has remained patient but done everything right. It's not easy to jump straight into a team that, until 10 days ago, were unbeaten and performing above expectations.

Then you've got the red cards. Gueye was forced to sit out one match but Yuki Ohashi stole his spot. Owen Beck missed three games after a very bright start to his loan, handing the shirt back to Harry Pickering.

Callum Brittain's injury forced a defensive reshuffle. Initially, it worked well but the absence of a natural full-back on that side was exposed at Coventry and Plymouth. 

But after the international break, all of those niggles, suspensions and fitness factors should be removed. Albeit, Hayden Carter, Lewis Travis and Tyrhys Dolan are one yellow card away from a one-game ban for the next 10 league fixtures (gulp).

There will be fixture congestion to consider, with this next block of six fixtures falling in four weeks, with two midweek games against West Brom and Stoke City. Both are Wednesday nights before Saturday 12:30pm trips to Watford and Cardiff, which is quite unhelpful for Eustace.

Everyone will now be on a level playing field, it feels. It's the first real chance for Eustace to discover his best XI and find the right balance and alchemy, particularly in the final third.

If I asked 100 Blackburn Rovers fans to choose their first-choice teams, everyone fit and firing, you'd get a lot of different combinations. But I think the most variation would be in that front four.

Aynsley Pears has his doubters but he's performed well this season. He kept Rovers in the match at Plymouth and there is little reason to consider a change in goal at the moment. Balazs Toth will just have to remain patient and vigilant, hoping his chance comes.

It was interesting that Joe Rankin-Costello came on at right-back against Plymouth. Prior to that, he hadn't played a single minute in the role that he excelled in under Jon Dahl Tomasson. Though, as we've previously discussed, the role of the full-back is entirely different under the two head coaches.

Either way, he deserves a start against Swansea, whether Brittain is fit or not. He might be eased back in anyway after a month out.

Whilst Danny Batth has performed well coming into the team, Hayden Carter and Dom Hyam are rightly the first-choice pairing. Left-back is a tough call but Rovers' last two results might sway the vote in Beck's favour, particularly considering Rovers are at home to what many expect to be a mid-table side.

Travis and Sondre Tronstad looked a bit jaded in the last week but that's owing to the fixture schedule and how many minutes they've played. They have been excellent this term and will retain the faith in midfield.

I think the impact of Cozier-Duberry from the bench means he simply has to start. He deserves to. Likewise, Cantwell can hopefully now get a run of starts after gradually building his minutes.

Whilst Tyrhys Dolan struggled in the two away defeats, he has been good this season. He offers a lot out-of-possession, as well as with it, from that number 10 role. He's also versatile and can interchange and rotate with Cantwell.

I have been calling for Gueye to return to the team but he didn't really grab his chance at Plymouth. Ohashi has done enough to retain that starting berth and so I think should get the nod.

If Eustace were to select that XI, it would leave so much strength on the bench. Toth, Batth, Pickering, John Buckley, Lewis Baker, Andi Weimann, Ryan Hedges, Arnor Sigurdsson and Gueye, all in reserve.