RUBEN Rochina will make his first start for Blackburn Rovers since the opening day of the season in their final game of 2013 at home to Birmingham City this afternoon.

The Spaniard, now fully recovered from the dislocated shoulder that he suffered in the curtain raiser at Derby County on August 4, takes the place of Rudy Gestede.

Rochina is one of two changes to the team that started the Boxing Day 0-0 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Chris Taylor, who was stretchered off against Wednesday after a painful fall, is replaced be Lee Williamson.

Taylor is, however, fit enough for a place on a substitutes bench which does not feature the injured David Dunn (hamstring), Josh King (back) and Todd Kane (thigh).

Birmingham, who are on an eight-match unbeaten run, make one enforced change to the side that started their 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day.

Andy Shinnie is in for suspended top-scorer Jesse Lingard.

Rovers are unbeaten in four games and victory today could move them within a point of the play-off places.

Rovers: Eastwood, Henley, Dann, Hanley, Spurr, Lowe, Williamson, Cairney, Rochina, Marshall, Rhodes. Subs: Kean, Kilgallon, Campbell, Olsson, Taylor, Judge, Gestede.

Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Bartley, Burn, Robinson, Adeyemi, Lee, Burke, Shinnie, Novak, Zigic. Subs: Doyle, Mullins, Reilly, Brown, Gray, Ferguson, Lovenkrands.