One division and 17 places separate the two teams, but Rovers have been installed as favourites by the bookmakers for tonight’s FA Cup third round replay with Newcastle.

The Magpies are expected to field a weakened team, as they did in the first match, which will have swayed the odds, while Rovers’ strong home form and the fact they went within seven minutes of winning at St James’ Park will also have been factored in.

The Magpies’ team selection could be affected by a crunch Premier League game with Cardiff City this weekend.

For those reasons, a Rovers victory may not be considered as an upset in some quarters, though Ewood boss Tony Mowbray doesn’t pay much attention to odds. Indeed, he’s expecting a tough test, whatever opposition his side face tonight.

“I’m not a betting man, I never have been. I don’t even like spending £10 at Redcar races, I work hard for my money and I don’t like giving it to bookies,” the Rovers boss said.

“The favourites would depend on how strong a team Newcastle would play, I would suggest. Newcastle’s strongest team on paper is stronger than ours.

“Newcastle have to try and stay in the Premier League, if it was Manchester City on Saturday then they might think more about trying to get through in the cup. But they are playing Cardiff, and with no disrespect to Cardiff, that game is a real opportunity for them to get three points.

“The gulf between the Premier League and where we are is quite big. The Burnley game (when Rovers lost in the Carabao Cup) a year and a bit ago proved that. That’s what we have to aspire to moving forward.”

Newcastle made eight changes for the game at St James’ Park earlier this month, which ended 1-1.

And Mowbray admits it is difficult to work on the opposition given the uncertainty about their team selection.

He added: “We don’t know what Newcastle are thinking. If it was my decision, you might want to win a game and go in to Cardiff at home on the back of a win with your centre forward scoring a goal and keeping a clean sheet. Or you might send the kids and not worry about the result and focus on trying to beat Cardiff.

“Rafa is an experienced manager and knows his squad and his players. He will bring a team that he believes can win the game.”

Mowbray could himself make alterations with Corry Evans unlikely to feature because of injury.

He added: “You won’t be talking about eight or nine changes because we have not got the squad to do that. Our players are used to playing three games in a week. We will be positive and try to get a positive result.”