Rovers may be mathematically safe and have confirmed their Championship status for next season, but Tony Mowbray is ensuring his players aren’t losing focus.

Having followed up the win over Derby with only a second away win in six months, at Nottingham Forest, Rovers are now 13 points above the relegation zone with four games left.

And Mowbray wants his side to finish the season strongly ahead of tomorrow’s trip to QPR.

He said: “My job is to keep the players focused. You could feel it in training, you have to refocus the minds that the season is not finished. We have to finish the season strong, keep the levels high, work hard and try and do that in the last four games.

“The thinking for next year started at the end of the last transfer window (in January). What’s important is to try and finish the season as well as we can.

“We want to try and create a level of momentum but any away game in the Championship is tough. We have to go down to London to take on QPR, then have Bolton at home who have had a tough season on and off the pitch but we have to look after ourselves.

“We then have a huge test at Carrow Road against Norwich, but should try and enjoy that game and test ourselves against the top team in the division. Then we finish at home to Swansea.”

Mowbray has hinted he would offer opportunities to some young players in the closing weeks of the season.

However, Damien Johnson’s side travel to Everton on Tuesday for a Premier League Cup tie, 24 hours after the first team host Bolton, while they have the small matter of a Lancashire Senior Cup final against Burnley on May 7, two days after the Championship season finale.

“I’ve said that I would like to do that but it’s about picking the right moments,” Mowbray said.

“I’m not going to be changing the starting line-ups too often, but I might bring on some young players in the last four games.

“I’m also conscious about not breaking up their season because they have a cup tie at Everton and then a cup final against Burnley.

“The bottom line is that I don’t want to break up the Under-23s just to give people 10 minutes here and there. It’s important they finish their season strong.

“It’s a balance. There might be a few players involved but generally it will be off the bench rather than starting.”