INJURED trio Craig Short, Ciccio Grabbi and John Curtis are also back in contention for tonight's clash against Middlesbrough.

And Souness is calling on his players to turn on the style for the fans as Rovers look to take a step nearer Cardiff.

"Last season we made no secret of the fact our priority was to get out of the First Division and nothing else really mattered," said Souness.

"But that isn't the case this time and I want us to do well in every game we play.

"The most important thing is we have a duty to our supporters to go out and perform.

"But this is a competition we can also make progress in and we've got to show the right attitude."

Souness told me today that new-boy Nils-Eric Johansson WILL start following his £2.7 million move from Nuremberg.

"We are throwing him in at the deep end but the supporters have to understand that although we have paid a lot of money for him he's still a baby.

"So I've got no fears about putting him in."

Several players on the fringe of the squad could be given a rare start with five first team regulars still missing.

Henning Berg has failed to shake-off a foot injury while Damien Duff and Keith Gillespie are still sidelined with hamstring and knee problems respectively.

Lucas Neill is cup-tied after appearing in an earlier round with Millwall and Marcus Bent will serve the second game of a three match ban in the wake of his sending off against Oldham.

Rovers are expected to choose from: Filan, Curtis, Bjornebye, Johansson, Short, Dunn, Johnson, Mahon, Flitcroft, Jansen, Hignett, Grabbi, Tugay, Hughes, McAteer, Kelly.