Tony Mowbray has paid close attention to Preston North End and their players, and not just because they are Rovers’ next opponents.

The boss had been puzzled by North End’s slow start to the season having looked at some of their squad as potential additions to his side.

In play-off contention for most of last season, Alex Neil’s side languished in the bottom three for the early weeks of the campaign.

But Preston have turned a corner with three wins and four draws in seven unbeaten games and Mowbray believes the Lilywhites are making the progress which he fully expected.

When asked why he had always felt Preston were better than their league position suggested, Mowbray said: “Only because when I analyse other teams and analyse players who could be potential signings for ourselves I see some good footballers.

“How they struggled so much early season I’m not sure because I don’t go and watch their games every weekend.

“I have done over the last 10 days because they are our next opposition and they have some good players, some good individuals, and if you don’t dampen their fires of where they are particularly hot then they can give you a tough day.

“We need the players on our team to play pretty well to stop some of their better players, and vice versa.

“I’m sure they recognise that they know that if they don’t pay attention and take care in certain areas of the pitch then they can find themselves in trouble.

“It will be a good game, a tactical game and a game of players who are wholehearted, honest and work really hard.

“It’s one we should all be looking forward to.”

Rovers are nine places and eight points better off than tomorrow’s opponents, with Mowbray anticipating a Lancashire derby full of hard work and honesty.

A sold-out travelling following of over 5,500 will make the short trip to Deepdale as Rovers return to action following the international break.

And the boss hopes they will return to East Lancashire with the bragging rights.

He added: “I’ve been to Deepdale a few times, but not as Blackburn Rovers manager and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a good football arena.

“There will be a full bank of Rovers fans behind that goal and we hope we can make it an enjoyable day for them, yet we’re up against a team who have gone seven unbeaten and on a good run of form.

“Their players are better than their league position suggests and maybe their run of recent results suggests they have found a formula that’s working for them.

“Last season they were pretty strong and up near the top of the table and we have a tough test on Saturday but one, as always, we’ll face head on and look forward to.”