Steve Evans says his Rotherham side are “under no illusions” about how tough their clash with Wanderers will be.

The Millers had a tough first half of the season but now seem to be heading in the right direction, with victory at Lincoln on New Year’s Day backed up by a hard-fought point at Huddersfield last weekend.

Evans hopes his side can take another positive step this weekend but knows it will not be easy against the Whites.

“I think it is a big game,” he told the club channels. “Evo has been coming under a little bit of pressure.

“But every time he seems to come under a bit of pressure, his team deliver a big performance and result. That is credit to him and his staff.

“We are under no illusions about how tough it will be. Again, it is an opponent who, at the start of the season, I don’t think there is one pundit who didn’t have them in the top two for promotion.

“It shows the class they have got in their squad, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Both sides were tipped to be battling around the automatic promotion spots at the start of the campaign but Wanderers currently sit 10th and Rotherham 16th.

When asked how challenging it can be to deal with expectation, Evans replied: “I think there is one team who have exceeded all expectations, and that is Wycombe Wanderers.

“But if you look at the investment, wages and type of things happening at Wycombe, it is credit to the new ownership.

“It is a fantastic model, similar to Wrexham. The only difference is Wrexham have that Hollywood feel with the two guys who have put millions in.

“I think there are three or four disappointing ones in terms of where they think they should be. We are one of them so we have got the second half of the season to make that up.”

The Rotherham boss also revealed that Christ Tiehi will not be included in the squad this weekend after a bid was accepted for the 26-year-old midfielder.

“The football club has agreed a fee for Christ with a club in Europe," Evans stated. "Christ has never hidden, since I’ve joined the club, that he would love to go back to Europe.

"Obviously, with the restrictions on his family being here, visa restrictions for family members at our level.

“That fee has been agreed and a valuation has been met. Christ has travelled there and whether he signs there, we will know in the next few days.”