Tony Mowbray is respectful of the work of Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, but believes there will opportunities to exploit his team given the way they set up.

The two sides meet at Ewood Park tomorrow in the early kick-off eyeing three points on the return to action after the international break.

Bielsa joining Leeds as head coach in June was one of the standout bits of news during the summer, given the Argentinian’s history in the game. He has managed in two World Cups as well spells in France and Spain as well as his homeland.

In Bielsa, Mowbray sees a ‘knowledgeable coach’ whose teams play an aggressive style, but the Rovers boss says that can count for little when the players cross the white line.

When asked if coming up against a coach like Bielsa was similar to players testing themselves against the best in the game, Mowbray said: “It’s just respect levels really.

“I think if you’ve managed Chile and Argentina and a lot of people spoke about that Chile team and I watched footage of that team and how they did it.

“Yet here is managing in the Championship in England.

“Leeds won five of their first seven matches last year and then fell away but he seems to be able to drive them.

“They play a very brave game and they do leave themselves exposed out of possession at times but ask questions of you when they have the ball, a lot of people getting forward, a lot of attackers.

“You can see he’s a thoughtful, knowledgeable coach.

“Is that a challenge? I think every game is a challenge whether you are against Frank Lampard who is just kicked off in his career or Bielsa who has managed some of the world’s great teams.

“The good thing is that he can’t bend a free-kick in or head in a corner, he’s just working with the players and they have to go out there and do it.”

Leeds, like Rovers, have played a number of different formations at times this season, with Bielsa having started off with a back three system which proved so successful for his Chile side between 2007 and 2011.

While brave on the ball, Rovers will look to set traps so to exploit them on the change of play, something they have excelled in under Mowbray.

The Ewood boss knows quality in the final third, as ever, could pave the way to victory, but knows his side will need to match the energy levels of a Leeds side whose physical statistics are among the best in the division.

He added: “They play a few systems, I’ve seen them play 3-3-3-1, 4-1-4-1, they have lots of formations but are very brave in their positional play.

“Like anything, sometimes their biggest strength can be their biggest weakness and the fact they are so brave if their passing is good they can drag you all over but if it’s not and we intercept it then they are out of position and we can hurt them.

“It’s risk and reward and that’s why they do, take up high positions and if they are accurate and get the ball where they want then that’s why they’ve been winning matches and causing teams problems. But at the same time, if they don’t hit their targets they can be vulnerable.

“It’s a good game for us, one we should look forward to.

“Hopefully how good we can find those deficiencies in how they play.”