ROVERS fans making the trip to Spotland tonight should be treated to the sight of new strike duo Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes starting together for the first time.

Graham has scored two goals in two pre-season run-outs so far but has been mostly kept separate from former Celtic man Stokes as Rovers have only two recognised forwards.

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Boss Owen Coyle has fielded different teams in different halves against SV Ried, and in the hour-long games against Bury and Morecambe.

But the summer signings will be out to build up an understanding before the start of the Championship season next month, starting in the friendly against Rochdale tonight.

Coyle said: “Danny and Stokesy have not played together yet but they will and that is because we only have two strikers and we have to split them up.

“There is no doubt when they play together they are going to be a potent force and I am looking forward to that. There is a good chance (they will play against Rochdale together).

“What we do now is attain the fitness levels, and once we attain those fitness levels then we start putting the bricks in the wall and look to how that is going to play and how that is going to work together. They both know where the goal is, they are both clever players, and you will see from them that they know how to score goals and take up the positions where they can hurt the opposition.”

Graham netted seven goals in 18 matches on loan from Sunderland last season before making his move permanent, while Stokes arrived as Coyle’s first signing.

But Coyle is also keen to keep blooding the club’s younger talent in the warm-up fixtures after fielding five teenagers in the weekend games at Morecambe, including centre-back Tyler Magloire who will now return to the academy ranks buoyed by the experience.

Coyle said: “I said to the young players that if you look where I have been, I have got no fear of playing young players.

“If young players are good enough, they will play for me. If they are 16 or 17, it makes no odds to me. And Blackburn Rovers have always had a history of bringing good young players through.

“I watched Tyler against Oldham (Athletic, who Blackburn under-21s beat 3-0 in a behind-closed-doors clash last Wednesday) and with the centre-back situation, we brought him into play. Now he will go back to the academy and his team-mates will think there is a pathway to the first team.

“It gives people a lift at the football club knowing we have got this young talent.

“Are they ready to play in the Championship? Who knows. But they are going the right way to achieving their ultimate goal.”

Rochdale have ex-Rovers player Keith Hill in charge. He was identified by Ewood chiefs as a possible successor to Paul Lambert and was understood to want the job but did not get an interview.