Friendly number three sees Rovers travel to Bradford City as Tony Mowbray and his side move into the final two weeks of their preparations for the upcoming season.

Rovers have enjoyed a training camp in Stirling, the club able to take advantage of a change in the restrictions to take in a week away from their Brockhall training base, as Mowbray had wanted, but feared wouldn’t be possible.

They were able to welcome a section of their supporters back for the visit to AFC Fylde where Mowbray, while without a number of senior players, was able to cast an eye over his young prospects.

The game against Everton was a good test, and with the majority of his senior players back in action, some getting through 60 minutes, it was a step in the right direction.

That’s not to say things have been plain sailing, Rovers dealt a blow with an injury to Bradley Johnson, no new players through the door, and still several players short of game-time two weeks out from the visit of Swansea.

Rovers fans will look forward to seeing their side in the new home shirt, while up to 4,000 Bradford supporters will be at today's match, with all three remaining games set to have supporters present.

But what will Mowbray hope to gain from these matches?

Daniel Ayala’s fitness, with the current make-up of the squad, is essential, and the Spaniard has set himself the target of getting at least one 90 minutes under his belt in the remaining friendlies.

With two more to follow this, and only one half of football under his belt this summer, that would be unlikely at Valley Parade, but seeing the 30-year-old getting through an hour this afternoon would be a welcome boost.

After netting just once in the 180 minutes against Fylde and Everton, goals, and showing more of a threat in the final third, will be on the mind of the manager. He will hope the involvement of star man Adam Armstrong, and League Two opposition, will allow Rovers to be more fluent in their play, two weeks out from the start of the season.

Armstrong got his first minutes of pre-season with involvement in the first half at Everton, but there was still no sign of Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan, Ben Brereton should be back on Wednesday night.

More players at the top end of the pitch will allow Mowbray to try different things heading into the season, which given the speculation and uncertainty over the future of star man Armstrong, would be a wise move.

However, this game is expected to come too soon for Gallagher, Brereton, Rankin-Costello and Dolan, despite them returning to training within the last week, while John Buckley is a doubt, despite his replacement midway through the first half at Everton being seen as just a precaution.

Experienced campaigner Johnson won’t feature, missing for a second successive weekend, and with Rovers short of midfield options in both their senior and Under-23s ranks, the opportunity to stake a claim is there for Jacob Davenport.

Davenport, Lewis Travis and Joe Rothwell should see plenty of game-time, with Isaac Whitehall the sole central midfield option on the bench last weekend, though Jalil Saadi, who has played there for the Academy side at times, stepped into the middle of the park to see out the final stages.

Rovers too are short at left back, with Louie Annesley having stepped in there in the second half of the two previous friendlies.

Meanwhile, Derek Adams is anticipating a good test against a ‘very talented’ Rovers squad at Valley Parade this afternoon.

The Bantams will play their second home fixture of pre-season against Tony Mowbray’s side this afternoon, with 4,000 home fans set to be in attendance, as the club continue with pilot matches ahead of the new season.

It will be a second home game for new boss Adams whose side will also host Accrington Stanley in their final season warm-up match next weekend.

Adams, who joined from Morecambe last month, has got his side quickly up to speed, eight players having played 90 minutes in their midweek win at Brighouse. And the manager is looking forward to facing Rovers who, in terms of league standing, will provide the toughest test of Bantams’ pre-season.

He said: “We know what Blackburn Rovers are. They have a very talented squad.

“But we are looking forward to it and it gives us another opportunity to play at Valley Parade in front of our own supporters.

“It's always good when you come to a new club that you get to play on your own surface before the first game of the season.” 

Former Rover Yann Songo’o is set to line up against his former side, having followed Adams to the Bantams from Morecambe.