Manager Paul Dickov assesses his squad prior to the visit of the Royals.
Dickov stated that “everybody has a part to play” as the club enters the final 180 minutes of the 13/14 season.
Only two games separate Rovers and Championship safety and their chances of picking up points over Reading and Leicester, home and away respectively, were significantly boosted when Abdoulaye Meite’s sending off at Millwall was overturned on appeal.
The Ivorian defender was shown a straight red card in the first half at The New Den – a game which the visitors battled hard in to earn a point.
“Abdu’s been outstanding for us and he was in the first half against Millwall on Monday and I’m just glad that common sense has prevailed in the end,” said Dickov.
Rovers also secured the loan extension of experienced defender Lucas Neill from Watford, until the end of the season, and the gaffer – true to his mantra – insisted that the Australian will be of benefit.
“Lucas’ experience will be invaluable for the remaining two games. The more experience we have to call upon the better it will be and he brings calmness to the training ground.
“He [Neill] has got a chance of playing, and he, James Husband and Richie Wellens will all do some fitness tests and then we can see how they react,” said Dickov.
Easter Monday also saw the return of giant centre back Jamie McCombe – whose last involvement in a Rovers shirt was the dramatic final day at Brentford last season – to the fold.
“Jamie’s a fantastic professional and the last few games with him in and around the squad, speaking to people and using his experience has been great and as soon as they [Millwall] put their 6’6” centre half on up front, it made sense to put him on and he won a few headers,” said Dickov.
“Everybody has a part to play, it’s a squad game with people disappointed if they’re left out and the one thing I’ve got here is a group that’s together that wants everyone to do well.
I’m looking forward to it, hearing there’s going to be a big crowd and we’re absolutely desperate to finish it off with a win.”