by Adam Stubbings

Fans will be eager to see some football after the late cancellation of the local derby with Scunthorpe last Saturday, so no better time for a heated South Yorkshire clash with rivals Sheffield United in front of what could be a bumper crowd at the Keepmoat.

Rovers remain in search of a first win in five league outings following the weekend off and will be keen to consign successive home defeats, against Port Vale and Walsall, to distant memory with an improved showing here. That will be no easy task however as Nigel Adkins brings a Sheffield United side that seems to have our number in recent matches. They were superior in a 3-1 victory at Bramall Lane last September, with Rovers not aided by a first half red card for Gary Mackenzie, and they also managed a double over us last season on their way to a Play Off place. In fact they are without loss in the last six meetings dating back to a 2-0 win in front of the live television cameras in 2010. The Blades themselves haven't won in three games mind and the pressure is on as they've now slipped five points adrift of their minimum requirement for the season, a top 6 finish.

The postponement at Scunthorpe last weekend could be a blessing in disguise for Rovers, despite Darren Ferguson's touchline ban now carrying over to this crucial home fixture, with the squad nearing full fitness once more after an extra week with no game and following on from a busy period of games that saw a litany of injuries. The loss of defender Andy Butler and striker Nathan Tyson have particularly affected the performances of the team, and getting these two back to 100% in particular will give everyone in the side a huge boost.

The loan spells of both Lynden Gooch and Eddy Lecygne are up after next week's Barnsley game, and as it stands both will struggle to justify an extended stay if the rest of the squad stays largely in shape between now and then after failing to impressive on loan from Premier League clubs. If Tyson is fit to return against the Blades, Gooch could find himself out of the team as Fergie's preferred attacking line-up will be back in place. Liam Mandeville will still be hoping to be in the manager's thoughts up front also after his superb goal against Walsall, and Thorsten Stuckmann could be back in goal despite the able deputising of loanee Chris Neal in his absence.