Tony Mowbray hopes Rovers can be competitive on and off the pitch when Leeds United arrive at Ewood Park for tomorrow’s high-noon showdown.

Promotion-chasing Leeds will pack out the Darwen End with more than 7,500 visiting fans expected for the first game back after the international break.

And the Rovers boss is hoping his side can provide stiff competition for Marcelo Bielsa’s outfit as they look to continue an encouraging start to the season.

A crowd in excess of 20,000 is expected, with Mowbray hoping as many Rovers fans as possible come through the turnstiles, having spoken to his players about the possible effects of a large travelling contingent.

“I think they know what’s coming,” he said of the effect of a large away contingent. “I felt that a few times this year, like the Villa game, sometimes the fans can suck the ball in at that end.

“The threat of their team becomes more from set plays, there’s more urgency to get your head on the ball, to whip a great cross in in front of your own fans, we have to try and dampen that.

“How do you do that? You do it by trying to play in the right areas of the pitch, yet against good teams it can be difficult to stem the flow sometimes.

“I think the crowd will be a factor and that’s why I think it would be nice if we can have a big crowd come along and try to, on the pitch make it a competition but off the pitch a vociferous atmosphere.

“And when we’re kicking towards our end we have the same effect as when they are kicking towards their fans and we feel as if we’re going to score, as if we can create an environment around that half of the pitch that can suck the ball in to the net.

“I see it this as a big game, it might be a bigger game for us than them, and let’s hope so because then our adrenaline levels allow us to match their endeavour and I think we have some pretty talented footballers in this league who can hurt anyone on their day.”

Rovers know the experience of large away followings having packed out two stands at grounds on their travels regularly last season en-route to promotion from League One.

Leeds are well fancied this term under Bielsa, arriving at Ewood third in the table and having lost just once this season, at home to Birmingham City.

Rovers lost their year-long unbeaten home record to Sheffield United in their last match at their headquarters, but Mowbray has backed them to respond against the Whites.

He added: “We don’t fear teams generally because we know what’s coming, and I think we know what’s coming with Leeds, we just need to get used to it and then ask questions of them.

“Other teams have tried to do that as well.

“They have lost one of their first 12, we’ve lost twice, and I’m sure it will be a good high-tempo football match and one I know we can win but one I know we can lose. But you should look forward to it, rev them up and send them out there.”