Amari’i Bell believes the Rovers dressing room share the ambition of wanting to play Championship football at Ewood Park next season.

The make-up of Tony Mowbray’s squad is a mix of experienced players who have played in the second tier and the likes of Bell aspiring to play higher.

The 23-year-old revealed he joined Rovers from Fleetwood Town in January with the aim of progressing a career which has been spent in the lower divisions.

With nine games to go, and Rovers sitting top of the table, Bell said there is a determination among the squad to achieve promotion.

“This club shouldn’t be in this league,” he said. “We could easily compete in the Championship and that was my goal when I came here.

“We share the same ambition, that’s why I came here and we share that goal.

“You need that experience but young players who have the desire and hunger to progress.

“We can learn from the experienced pros and that’s great.”

Rovers’ near five week stay at the top of the table could end this weekend.

Wins for Shrewsbury Town or Wigan Athletic, who face AFC Wimbledon and Bury respectively, would see Rovers slip down the standings.

It means Mowbray’s side could end the week outside the automatic promotion places, though they would have a game in hand on the Shrews.

Rovers haven’t played since their 3-0 win over Blackpool on March 10 and are without a game this weekend because of international call-ups.

Last weekend’s postponement at Gillingham has allowed Shrewsbury and Wigan to claw back four and six points respectively.

But, preferring to focus on matters they can control, Bell added: “We need to look at other results but at the end of the day we need to keep focussed on ourselves.

“We believe that we’re good enough to get promoted so will concentrate on ourselves.

“We have to win as many as we can and that’s the goal for us.”

Next up for Rovers is Thursday’s televised clash with Bradford City at Ewood Park.

They will welcome back their quintet of internationals in preparation for the game, but the absence of right back Ryan Nyambe could offer Bell a way back in to the team.

Mowbray may revert to the 3-4-2-1 system he utilised in the win over Bury on February 19, which could see Bell make his first outing since that night on the Rovers left.

“We have had over a week to prepare for that that game so we need to prepare right,” added Bell.

“I have to stay ready. I have to come in to any game and perform as well as I can.”