CICCIO Grabbi will get a chance to put himself in the shop window tonight when Rovers reserves kick off the new season against Birmingham City at Morecambe's Christie Park (kick-off 7pm).

Grabbi is one of a number of first team players to be named in Alan Murray's squad for the fixture.

And with Torpedo Moscow currently showing interest in the Italian, an eye-catching performance against the Blues could help to secure a move to Russia for the out of favour striker.

Fellow first teamers Andy Todd, Nissa Johansson, Egil Ostenstad, Jay McEveley and Paul Gallagher will also get some vital match action ahead of Saturday's Premiership curtain-raiser against Wolves.

And new signing David Yelldell is also in line for his competitive debut after joining Rovers from Stuttgart Kickers in the summer.

However, Murray has stressed his overall goal is to use the reserves as a development team for the club's promising young players over the course of the season.

"We've got some senior players playing tonight because the manager wanted to give them some more action before the Premiership kicks off," said Murray.

"So this is a chance for them to put themselves in the frame for Saturday's game.

"But generally speaking, I want to continue using the reserves as a development team for the younger lads so the senior players won't be playing regularly."

Birmingham are expected to name a strong side for the game at Christie Park.

Luciano Figueroa, Steve Bruce's recent £2.5 million signing, is expected to partner Clinton Morrison in attack.

And Senegal international, Aliou Cisse, could play his first competitive game since picking up an injury against Rovers in the Premiership back in January.

Jovan Kirovski, Bryan Hughes and Darren Carter are also likely to figure alongside Cisse in a powerful midfield quartet.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers' Academy Under 17s have just returned from a successful pre-season tournament in Holland.

The four-day tournament was essentially an Under 19 competition but that failed to stop Ian Miller's young guns from reaching the final.

Rovers were drawn in a group with hosts Fortuna Sittard, Austria Vienna and Schalke 04 of Germany but they kicked off their campaign in style with an impressive 4-0 win over Fortuna thanks to goals from Keith Barker, Omar Abdilahi and a trialist (2).

Barker then found the net again from the penalty spot in a 2-1 defeat against Vienna before Rovers booked a place in the final thanks to a 1-0 win over Schalke courtesy of Joe Byrom's strike.

In a closely contested final, Rovers finally lost 1-0 to Sparta Prague but Miller was delighted with the way his side performed overall.

"We had the youngest side in the tournament and to get to the final was a real achievement. I felt we more than matched Sparta and the whole foreign experience will be of great benefit to the lads."