Rovers kick off another busy run of fixtures in the Championship with a home game against Portsmouth.

Ryan Hedges and Amario Cozier-Duberry are both back in contention to face Pompey are returning to training.

The duo missed the win at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round over the weekend through illness.

New signings Dion Sanderson and Adam Forshaw have trained and are available for the fixture, although it could come too soon to start.

Skipper Lewis Travis is a couple of weeks away from being back in contention as he recovers from a hamstring problem.

Hayden Carter and Arnor Sigurdsson are also expected back at the end of the month, while Yuki Ohashi should return in February. Harry Pickering and Scott Wharton are longer-term absentees.

Balazs Toth kept a clean sheet on his debut at the Riverside Stadium but Pears has been ever-present in the league so far this season.

The backline has been consistent over the past few games, featuring Callum Brittain, Dom Hyam, Danny Batth and Owen Beck.

John Buckley started at Boro but Joe Rankin-Costello could come into the midfield alongside Sondre Tronstad against Pompey.

Andi Weimann could start again out wide after his ruthless finish secured Rovers’ place in the fourth round.

Todd Cantwell also started at Boro and Tyrhys Dolan, who came off the bench for the final 10 minutes, could return to the XI.

Harry Leonard was given a chance to lead the line against Michael Carrick’s side but Makhtar Gueye’s physical presence might be preferred against Pompey.

Predicted Rovers team: Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Beck; Rankin-Costello, Tronstad; Dolan, Cantwell, Weimann; Gueye.