The form of Stuart Downing and James Morrison has been like a breath of fresh air this season, while Tony McMahon and Danny Graham have also shown that they can perform on the big stage.
With a hectic schedule ahead for the next two months there is no need to rush those returning from injury. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ray Parlour and Stuart Parnaby are set to return tomorrow but Mark Viduka, Franck Queudrue and Joseph Desire Job are still struggling with injuries.
Michael Reiziger, Malcolm Christie and Andrew Davies remain the only players definitely missing.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes will return to domestic football by fielding an unchanged side.
Boro (possible): Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Mendieta, Boateng, Parlour, Zenden, Hasselbaink, Job.
Blackburn (probable): Friedel, Neill, Amoruso, Matteo, Gray, Emerton, Ferguson, Tugay, Jansen, Dickov, Djorkaeff.