BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has hinted he will freshen up his side for tomorrow’s big FA Cup fifth-round clash at home to Stoke City.

The match is the third of seven Rovers will play in the space of 21 days and comes at the end of another gruelling week in the Championship.

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Bowyer will therefore consult with his sports science team before naming his line-up to face the Potters.

However, even if he gets the nod to pick a similar side to the one that started Tuesday’s 2-1 home win over Rotherham United, he admits the players who have helped Rovers reach the last 16 have to come into his consideration.

Chris Taylor netted both goals in the third-round 2-1 victory at Charlton Athletic and he was also on target in the fourth-round 3-1 success at home to Stoke’s Premier League rivals Swansea City.

Taylor is certain to start tomorrow with Bowyer challenging the midfielder to continue his run of scoring in every round so far.

And goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, full-back Adam Henley, centre-back Shane Duffy and attacker Josh King, who like Taylor have not started a game since the victory over the Swans, could also earn recalls.

Asked whether the players who have starred for Rovers in the cup so far this season will come into his thinking for tomorrow’s tie, Bowyer said: “Of course they do yes.

“It is the third game in a week for us and it’s been a very tough week in that.

“And then we know what we’ve got the following week as well so we might have to be sensible with one or two but we’ll see how that goes and see how they are in training.”

Rovers, who resume their league programme at Cardiff City on Tuesday, will be without the injured Jason Lowe and David Dunn tomorrow as well as fellow midfielder Jay Spearing, who is cup-tied after playing for parent club Bolton Wanderers earlier on in the competition.

Bowyer admits Spearing, who has caught the eye since his loan switch, will be a loss.

He said: “I thought Jay was terrific again on Tuesday night.

“Both him and Corry Evans in there were phenomenal against Watford and they were the same against Rotherham.

“They’re very similar types. We had a little bit of a laugh that we have two little Jack Russells in there, snapping away at people.

“I’m a Labrador fan myself but don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing with Jack Russells, especially those two with the way they’re playing.

“But what Jay being cup-tied does is present an opportunity for someone else.

“Chris Taylor has stepped in every time in the FA Cup and he has done ever so well his goals – and we’ve just had a bit of banter with him there to see if he can continue scoring in every round.”

Alex Baptiste, like Spearing, is on loan at Rovers from Bolton.

Wanderers refused Baptiste permission to play against Charlton and Swansea but as they are no longer in the competition, and as their deadline to call the defender back to the Macron Stadium has passed, it is understood they will give him the go-ahead to feature against Stoke.