Blackburn take on Queens Park Rangers at Ewood Park, with both sides nowhere near the positions they envisaged at the start of the season.

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Languishing in 16th and 17th place respectively, the time has to be now if they are to mount any sort of push towards the top six this season.

R's boss Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink has yet to win a league game since making the move from high-flying Burton Albion, while Blackburn manager Paul Lambert has seen his side's form stutter after a positive start.

With both sides boasting a striker sought after by many a club in the higher division, both managers will be hoping their star men can fire them to victory.

In this article, I look at THREE things to watch out for in this clash of ex-Premier League clubs....

1) Goal shy Rovers

Despite boasting Jordan Rhodes in attack, Blackburn have only scored one goal in their last five games, with their only win coming against Rotherham at home during this sequence.

Paul Lambert needs to find a fix for this, as it can be slippery slope towards the bottom of the league when the goals dry up.

If he can get his midfield playing to a level where they are consistently making chances, then it is surely only a matter of time before Rhodes takes advantage of these chances and fires Rovers to some much needed victories.

2) Hasselbaink under pressure?

Despite only taking over in December, Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink will no doubt already be feeling the pressure, as he looks to secure a first win in charge of the Loftus Road outfit.

Moving from a job where seemingly nothing could go wrong, to a big club with lofty expectations, brings with it a new type of pressure for the former Dutch international.

If The Hoops don’t take three points tonight, the QPR faithful will begin to question the decision to employ a relatively inexperienced man, and the pressure could soon build.

3) Rhodes Vs Austin

Despite not setting the world alight in recent weeks, in Jordan Rhodes and Charlie Austin, both clubs possess one of the most lethal strikers outside of the Premier League.

Rhodes has long been courted for a move to the Premier League, while Austin is a proven goal scorer at all levels and is in high demand in the transfer window.

Rhodes has bagged nine already and will be looking to add to that tally to get Rovers season moving again.

Austin has managed 10 goals, and will be keen to not only help out his club, but perhaps put himself firmly in the shop window.