Santa Cruz back for Rovers
Blackburn manager Paul Ince made six changes to the side which beat Sunderland in midweek in the Carling Cup for the return league fixture.
Roque Santa Cruz returned to the starting XI after marking his return from a hamstring injury with a goal after coming on as a substitute at the Stadium of Light.
Andre Ooijer, Stephen Warnock, Keith Andrews, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Jason Roberts all returned to the side.
Sunderland manager Roy Keane made one change with Teemu Tainio replacing Jordan Henderson in midfield.
Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Simpson, Andrews, Mokoena, Pedersen, Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts.
Subs: Brown, Kerimoglu, Villanueva, Fowler, Treacy, Judge, Derbyshire.
Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Tainio, Whitehead, Richardson, Malbranque, Cisse, Jones.
Subs: Colgan, Diouf, Murphy, Leadbitter, Yorke, Reid, Henderson.
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset)
