TONY Mowbray has urged his Blackburn Rovers players to use the chance to test themselves against Championship opposition as an added incentive to stay in the FA Cup.

A replay win at Crewe Alexandra tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) would ensure the visit of Hull City to Ewood Park in the third round, on the weekend of January 6 and 7.

For some of Mowbray's men it would be their first taste of the second tier, for others it would be a welcome opportunity to re-familiarise themselves with the division. Certainly that would be the case for the club, as they bid for an immediate promotion.

Sitting third in League One after Saturday's 3-2 win at Peterborough United made it five on the spin, Rovers are well placed to achieve their goal.

Mowbray admits the cup can be a distraction. But he feels there are benefits to marrying their league form with progress at this stage of the competition.

“I think the positive of getting through this round would be to test ourselves against a Championship side," said the Rovers boss.

“I’m never swayed from the main goal of trying to win league games and try to get out of this division.

“But there are a few younger players that we’ve signed for whom the Championship would be a new challenge so it would be good to test ourselves against the next level of opposition if we can get through this round.

“We’re not approaching the FA Cup dreaming of a Wembley appearance, we’re approaching the FA Cup as an opportunity to progress and hopefully play in front of our fans against opposition they would like in the future for this club to be playing against on a regular basis."

He added: Hull have just changed their manager and had a good result in his first game so they will be in more confident mood.

"They have been in the Premier League recently, so it would be a good test for us, at home. But we have to get by Crewe first, which is no easy task.

“The FA Cup is like a distraction, but hopefully it creates momentum if we can keep winning, and who knows where that journey ends.

“It could end at Crewe; if you get through that it could end against Hull. But let’s hope that if it is going to end it’s against Manchester City away in a quarter final or something like that, or even a Wembley appearance.

“Who knows. But we will keep taking on the next team we face and keep going."

It is understandable for Mowbray to adopt a cautious approach given that Rovers surrendered a 3-0 lead in the initial tie, and finished the game with nine men following the dismissals of Rakeem Harper and Elliott Bennett.

Injuries to Peter Whittingham and Corry Evans on Saturday further depleted Rovers' midfield, with both ruled out of tonight's replay.

Evans could be back to face Charlton at home on Saturday, but Whittingham could miss the festive fixtures.

“Peter’s a concern, he’s got a calf strain," Mowbray explained.

"They’re never easy because every step is really tight. I think we’ll just have to assess him over the next few weeks and let’s wait and see. He’s an experienced player who knows his body well so hopefully (he will be back) in a two to three weeks.

“Corry I think should be a shorter time. He’s got a really bad impact injury, studs right through his knee and he had six or seven stitches after the game.

“But there’s no damage – muscular or ligament or anything – it’s just waiting for the wound to heal.

“That’s got a bit of swelling at the moment and will be sore. Those types of injuries just need to settle down a little bit, give it a few days and see where he is.

“We’ll probably assess Corry on Thursday or Friday. If there are doubts or it’s still giving him a bit of grief we’ll probably leave it at the weekend. But we’ll see during the week."