Tony Mowbray is using Rovers’ break from action as a positive as he gears his side up for ‘one last push’ towards the finish line.

Rovers are in the middle of an enforced 19 day sabbatical after the 3-0 win over Blackpool on March 10, following last weekend’s postponement at Gillingham.

This weekend’s scheduled trip to Doncaster Rovers had already been re-arranged because of international call-ups, meaning Rovers are without a game until Bradford City arrive at Ewood Park on March 27.

Mowbray’s men will now face seven games in a hectic April, but remain top of League One with nine games to go and their promotion aim in sight.

“You can look for the positives during this break,” Mowbray said.

“It’s a big breather really, before one last push in the last six weeks of the season.

“We’ve got seven games in April, so it’s a huge challenge and a huge test for us. We’ve got to keep winning football matches.

“The games are going to come thick and fast, in midweek and at the weekends, so the lads have to be ready.

“We have to keep them fit and try to pick the right teams as the games come along. We’ve got some travelling to do, we’ve got to go to Gillingham and Bristol, for example, two long trips.

“We’ve got some difficult games but they’ve been difficult all season. I think we’ve had just one defeat in 26 league games, so we shouldn’t fear anyone.

“We’ll go into those games in a positive frame of mind and believing we can win them.”

Rovers currently have five players on international duty so are working with reduced numbers during the break.

However, they have been boosted by the return to fitness of midfielder Peter Whittingham after three months out.

He travelled with the squad for the first time since December to Gillingham and looks set to be involved in next week’s televised clash with Bradford.

Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams will hope to be involved for the Republic of Ireland in Turkey tomorrow, while Charlie Mulgrew will look to earn cap number 32 when Scotland host Costa Rica.

Corry Evans is an expected starter for Northern Ireland whey host South Korea on Saturday, while Jayson Leutwiler will be aiming for his fourth cap when Canada face New Zealand in Spain on the same afternoon.

Mulgrew and Scotland do have another game on Tuesday in Hungary, though Mowbray has contacted national team boss Alex McLeish about Mulgrew’s involvement in that game 48 hours ahead of the Bantams clash.

While Mowbray admits the coming days will be a balance of rest and hard work, he is keen for his internationals to return as they left.

He added: “Obviously we’ve got reduced numbers this week, with four or five away on international duty, so it’s difficult for the players because there’s no game to target at the weekend.

“Really, it’s just about keeping their bodies ticking over and keeping training competitive and sharp by giving them something different to the normal match preparation.

“It’s always about balance between work and rest, so they’ll have a few days work as well as working hard.

“We have to hope that the international players come back fit. After the weekend, we’ve got a three day build-up into the game against Bradford, so we’ll wait for Charlie to come back from Scotland, Darragh and Derrick from Ireland, Corry from Northern Ireland and Jayson from Canada.

“Hopefully they come back fit and ready.”