Preston North End will look to extend their five-game unbeaten run in all competitions when they travel to Ewood Park for Friday's derby clash with Blackburn Rovers.
Meanwhile, the hosts will be desperate for a positive response after losing each of their last three Championship matches.
Match preview
© Imago
Blackburn's playoff bid has lost significant momentum in recent games, having suffered three consecutive defeats against Oxford United, Coventry City and Bristol City.
Rovers went into half time on level terms in their most recent game against the Robins after Andreas Weimann found the net to cancel out Scott Twine's early opener.
However, Bristol City forward Nakhi Wells went on to net a 77th-minute winner to condemn Blackburn to a narrow defeat, representing their third loss in four away league matches.
As a result of the defeat, John Eustace's side dropped out of the playoffs, leaving them in seventh place with a two-point gap to the top six.
Rovers will now return to Ewood Park where they experienced an underwhelming run of form, having won just one of their previous five matches (D1, L3), with that solitary victory taking place against Portsmouth earlier this month.
Having failed to win their last five games against Preston, Blackburn will head into Friday's encounter with aspirations of claiming their first head-to-head win since easing to a 4-1 victory in April 2022.
© Imago
Preston may be in 15th place and five points adrift of Blackburn, but they will travel to Ewood Park in a confident mood after putting together a five-game unbeaten run since losing to West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day.
Paul Heckingbottom's side played out draws with Oxford United and Luton Town, either side of a FA Cup win over Charlton Athletic, before they recorded a 2-1 victory in their away league meeting with Watford.
They repeated that 2-1 scoreline in Saturday's home clash against Middlesbrough, with Stefan Teitur Thordarson and Emil Riis grabbing a goal apiece to extend Preston's unbeaten home run to eight Championship matches.
While they have lost just two of their 15 home league games (W6, D7), Preston have tended to struggle on their travels, having won two, drawn six and lost six of their 14 Championship away matches.
However, after beating Watford on their last road trip, the Lilywhites now have the chance to claim back-to-back away league victories for the first time since February/March 2024.
They will draw inspiration from the fact they have won their last two away games against Blackburn, including a 2-1 victory on their most recent visit to Ewood Park in November 2023.
Team News
© Imago
Blackburn are unable to call upon Hayden Carter, Harry Pickering, Sondre Tronstad, Scott Wharton, Arnor Sigurdsson and Yuki Ohashi.
Todd Cantwell is hoping to prove his fitness after missing last Saturday's defeat to Bristol City with a calf problem.
Owen Beck was only deemed fit enough to play a substitute role against the Robins, but he could return to the starting lineup for Friday's fixture.
Meanwhile, Preston captain Ben Whiteman is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury in training.
Jayden Meghoma and Robbie Brady will try to shake off knocks in time for the derby clash after picking up back and ankle issues in the win over Middlesbrough.
Riis could be rewarded with his first start since January 4 after he came off the bench to score the winner last weekend.
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Beck; Forshaw, Buckley; Dolan, Weimann, Hedges; Gueye
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Gibson, Hughes; Kesler-Hayden, McCann, Thordarson, Meghoma; Frokjaer-Jensen; Riis, Osmajic
We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Preston North End
Preston will be in a confident mood after winning their last two matches, and having won their last two away games against Blackburn, we think the visitors will enjoy another successful trip to Ewood Park, especially as Rovers have lost four of their previous five league games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
