Rovers' trip to Brentford will be ‘a good gauge’ of where they are, according to Tony Mowbray.

Brentford have started to hit their stride after a slow start following the disappointment of losing in last season’s play-off final, and climbed to sixth in the table courtesy of an eight-game unbeaten run.

Rovers themselves are in good form, with four wins and two draws from their last six games leaving them knowing victory over the Bees will move them above Thomas Frank’s side.

Mowbray has won three of his five meetings as Rovers boss against the Bees, but they have squandered two goal leads on their previous two visits, drawing 2-2 in February and then losing 5-2 12 months earlier.

“Brentford, over the three or four years I’ve been at Rovers, have been a really good gauge for us,” Mowbray said.

“They have a different model to a lot of clubs, they don’t have an Academy but have a B team, they recruit exceptionally well, they sell high and buy cheap, but their team keeps rolling on.

“I think it’s a good model for a lot of clubs really the way they handle their finances.

“Having sold (Said) Benrahma and (Ollie) Watkins in the summer they keep going, they’re sixth in the league at the moment, winning games, so their model works for them.

“They have an identity of how they play, it’s always an interesting game. We took four points out of six against them last season, we beat them at home the year before, it’s always an interesting game, a tough game.”

Bees boss Frank has paid Rovers a real compliment ahead of the game, describing them as the best attacking team in the division.

And Mowbray admitted: “I have a lot of admiration for Thomas Frank and the culture he creates at Brentford and the team he produces.

“Dean Smith before him, Thomas worked with him, and they are something to look at as a good way forward.

“They have a new stadium which will be exciting and interesting to go to, our aim is to go there and try and find a way to win, but knowing we’re playing against a very good side.”

It will be a new setting for the game following Brentford’s move into a new stadium having left their Griffin Park home in the summer.

Around 2,000 fans will be allowed entry into the Brentford Community Stadium this afternoon, a decision which has left Mowbray torn having questioned the advantage that brings teams located in Tier 2 areas, but also acknowledging the importance of bringing back supporters.

“It’s a first step and it’s important we take the first step,” he added.

“My own view is that it creates unfair competition, but I think it’s important we start somewhere with fans coming back to stadiums.

“We have to accept that in Blackburn we’re in Tier 3 and the Government has decided there are no fans coming back, but the positive is that fans are back in stadiums around the country.

“I hope that’s not going to be the case for very long and the competition evens itself out and that everyone gets support for their home team.”