SAM Allardyce insists Blackburn Rovers have a “fantastic chance” of reaching the FA Cup final despite admitting tonight’s fourth round replay is a time for caution.

The Rovers boss revealed he will be fielding several of his relatively unused squad players for the visit of Sunderland but insisted that would be no excuse for being dumped out of the competition.

Allardyce has urged tonight’s side to grab their opportunity with both hands as he looks to fully utilise his squad in a potentially tense end to the season.

He said: “I would be disappointed if we did not get through because I don’t want to waste the 90 minutes. I think I have picked a team capable of beating Sunderland. I think they will make just as many changes as well.

“If we continue to use the squad fully we have a fantastic chance to go all the way to the final. I did a similar thing at Bolton when we reached the latter stages of the UEFA cup. I always made changes from my league side but we kept winning.

“The game gives me the opportunity to use some of my very experienced players that have not played as much under me. I saw some terrific performances from these players at Sunderland and hopefully they will take their chance again.

“It gives them an opportunity to play for 90 minutes and to get us through to the next round.”

While determined to remain in the world’s most famous club competition, with a winnable home match against Coventry awaiting the winners, Allardyce has conceded his view has changed over the last couple of weeks.

A couple of frustrating draws since the stalemate in the original tie at the Stadium of Light have left Rovers back in the Premier League relegation zone - with a crucial home game against Aston Villa in the offing.

He said: “It should be a good exercise for us unless we do not get through or pick up injuries to players.

“The problems have changed dramatically from the first game though.

“We should have picked up six points in the last two games and that means our Premier League position is much more in jeopardy.

“The better off we are in the Premier League the more you can go for it in the cup competitions. This is a balancing act for me to use the squad to its full capacity but not risk injuries.”