Rovers hope to announce two flagship friendlies at Ewood

That would take the total tally of friendlies to six for Tony Mowbray’s side ahead of their return to the Championship.

Four fixtures have already been announced, starting with a trip to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian on Sunday, July 8 and finishing on Saturday, July 28 with a visit to neighbours and League One new boys Accrington Stanley.

In between, Rovers will travel to League Two pair Port Vale and Lincoln City on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 22 respectively.

Rovers are hoping to confirm two home friendlies against higher league opposition to complete the pre-season schedule. Rovers didn’t play a home friendly last summer due to Ewood staging an Elton John concert in June.

Speaking last week, Ewood boss Mowbray said: “There will be some fixtures, that we haven’t announced yet, which will test us. This year the balance is going to be better, the team will be more ready for the season.”

Rovers’ pre-season starts with a week-long trip to Austria with the players reporting back after their summer break on Sunday, June 24.

There are no plans to play a game during their warm-weather training camp.

Rovers also travelled to Austria last summer where they played one friendly, a 1-0 defeat against Sparta Prague.

Last summer saw friendlies against non-league duo Barrow and York City, as well as three against League Two opponents - Grimsby, Morecambe and Carlisle.

Rovers have consciously tried to increase the quality of opposition they face this summer, with Mowbray feeling they played too much with the ball last summer.

A pre-season without facing English opposition above League Two level meant it was something of a wake-up call to Mowbray’s side in the early weeks of the 2017/18 League One campaign as they lost their first two matches.

Rovers' pre-season so far: 

Sunday, July 8: Hibs v Rovers 

Saturday, July 14: Port Vale v Rovers

Sunday, July 22: Lincoln City v Rovers

Saturday, July 28: Accrington Stanley v Rovers