Tony Mowbray expects both sides to make changes for tonight’s Carabao Cup tie with the league their primary focus.

Mowbray made 11 changes for the last round, last-gasp 3-2 win over League Two side Oldham, and after three hard-fought games in the space of seven days will rotate his squad again.

Stewart Downing is one player expected to be given the night off, and with concerns over the fitness of Tosin Adarabioyo, Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams are also set to be rested ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Brom.

Ben Brereton (knee) and Corry Evans (ribs) are unlikely to feature which could see Mowbray turn to several of his young players to give him the opportunity to rotate.

He expects opposite number Chris Wilder to do the same, but is under no illusions of the challenge Rovers will face at Bramall Lane.

“You see lots of Championship teams make changes in this competition,” said Mowbray whose side reached round three last season. 

“The big game for me is away at West Brom.

“Of course, Sheffield United won’t lie down for us in the cup.

“They did extremely well last season and have started their Premier League campaign well. This is an opportunity for some of our squad players to play and I’m sure Chris Wilder will rotate his squad as well.

“The difference with their changes will be that they can bring in £20 million Oli McBurnie, £10m Lys Mousset and £4m Luke Freeman.

“The important thing for us is to keep the league at the forefront of our minds, whatever happens on Tuesday night.”

Greg Cunningham will be available again for Rovers after missing the game against his parent club at the weekend.

Mowbray will be mindful of the heavy schedule, with this Rovers’ seventh game in 24 days, while also bearing in mind that a 14-day international break follows the weekend trip to The Hawthorns.

Harry Chapman and Sam Hart were both involved for Rovers Under-23s in their defeat to Wolves last Friday which should push their claims to feature.

Joe Rankin-Costello didn’t feature in the Wolves defeat, and was on the bench for the Cardiff draw and could also be in contention tonight.

“I like the young players we’ve got,” Mowbray said.

“Rankin-Costello was on the bench, John Buckley we think is going to be a good player in the future so we have people who can change games with Adam Armstrong and Joe Rothwell.

“We went to Bournemouth last year and were beaten by a 94th minute winner so will be looking to go one better.”