BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has joked his squad is so stretched for tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final replay with Liverpool that he would turn to his kitmen – if they were not injured.

Bowyer could be without 12 first-team players for the hotly anticipated encounter through injury and ineligibility.

In contrast Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers’ absentees seem set to be only suspended trio Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can.

And Bowyer said: “Brendan will be wondering which internationals to replace their suspended internationals with.

“Whereas ourselves it’s a case of which kitmen can play, whether it be Harry (Kenyon), with a dodgy knee, or Carl (Brighty), whose back went yesterday.

“So I don’t think Brendan is going to struggle that much in terms of who he is going to replace those three with.”

Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood, who missed Saturday’s Championship clash with Leeds United, has been passed fit to play while strikers Rudy Gestede and Chris Brown, who came off in the 3-0 win at Elland Road with tightness in their hamstrings, will be given until this morning to prove their fitness.

Midfielder Chris Taylor (groin) is certainly out, as is defender Shane Duffy (knee) and midfielders Jason Lowe (foot) and David Dunn (calf), and Bowyer indicated that captain and defender Grant Hanley (calf) and striker Josh King (hamstring) will also miss out.

Winger Craig Conway (hamstring), though, has given himself every chance of playing.

Bowyer said: “We’re going to give them (Gestede and Brown) as long as possible so that’ll be right up until tomorrow. Rudy was back out on the grass yesterday but Browny wasn’t but we’ll see how they settle down after today’s training.

“Easty (Eastwood) was just a knock, but we had to take precaution with that, so he’s trained today and he’s fine.

“Tayls (Taylor) has aggravated his (groin) again, so he’ll be out, so that’s a blow. He’s done well in the cup for us, it’s been his competition, but hopefully he’ll be right in a week or so.

“Craig Conway has been doing ever so well, so we’ll see how he’s going. He’s joined back in with us training now, I can’t praise him highly enough. The workload he’s been through and the opportunity he’s given himself to be fit, not just for this game, but the upcoming games, has been phenomenal from him.

“Kingy (King) and Grant (Hanley) are slowing making progress. Grant’s is probably the most frustrating in terms of the injury that it is, in terms of it won’t go away, but hopefully we’ll have a few back in for the run-in.”

Bowyer will also be without goalkeeper David Raya and midfielder Jay Spearing because they are cup-tied and midfielders Paul Taylor and John O’Sullivan because they were not on registered for the initial 0-0 draw with Liverpool last month.

At the time Rovers Academy graduate O’Sullivan, who came off the bench against Leeds on Saturday, was on loan at League One Barnsley.

And Bowyer said: “To be told we can't even play one of our own players because he was sent on loan before the first game doesn't make sense to me.

“He's only been a Blackburn player for six years!

“We sent John away to help his development. He's back now, he'd be eligible for the semi-final if we get there, but not the quarter-final replay.”