BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is determined to keep his players’ feet firmly on the ground despite their flying form.

Rovers resume Championship combat on Saturday when they welcome Leeds United to Ewood Park.

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They will go into the game on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run that has left them within a point of the play-offs and five from top spot.

But Bowyer insists that Rovers, who have lost just eight of the 40 league games they have played in the calendar year, remain a ‘work in progress’.

And the message he has delivered to his young squad going into the showdown with Roses rivals Leeds is that it is no time to ‘rest on their laurels’.

“We’re always striving to get better and this season has been no different to that,” said Bowyer.

“It’s been work in progress and it still very much is. There is still a long way to go and there is still a lot of football to be played.

“But in terms of performances and results, they have been pleasing.

“Somebody stated to me the other day that we’ve lost only four of our last 29 games.

“That’s fantastic credit to the players.

“But we aren’t going to allow them to rest on their laurels.

“We’re going to be demanding more from as there are still areas of the game that we believe we can improve on both individually and collectively.”

Bowyer is set to name an unchanged squad against Leeds.

But summer signing Chris Brown yesterday made a big step closer to making his first competitive appearance for the club.

The fit-again striker scored two goals, including one from the penalty spot, in a 5-2 win over Carlisle United in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Carlisle United at Brockhall.

Brown, who underwent surgery in early September to solve the knee problem that had plagued him since the start of pre-season, came through 45 minutes unscathed.

He is now set to make his Rovers debut in Tuesday’s Lancashire FA Senior Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village (7pm).

The only other senior player on show against Carlisle was goalkeeper Simon Eastwood.

Eastwood is in line to start against Middlesbrough on Saturday week as on-loan number one Jason Steele will be ineligible to face his parent club.

Rovers could make the trip to the Riverside Stadium inside the top six if they beat Leeds on Saturday.

The Whites will be backed by the largest travelling support in the Championship so far this season.

They have sold 6,500 tickets for the 92nd competitive meeting between the teams.

Rovers, therefore, are expecting their biggest crowd of the campaign and are advising home supporters to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early.

Due to the large number of away coaches, congestion on the approach roads to Ewood, particularly from the Darwen End, is expected.

Rovers Academy, meanwhile, came from three goals down to draw 4-4 at home to Sunderland in the U18s Premier League yesterday.