Blackburn welcome Liverpool to Ewood Park on Tuesday looking to clamber out of the drop zone and put another dent in the Reds' Wembley preparations.
Rovers head into a midweek contest on home soil knowing that a point will be enough to lift them above Queens Park Rangers, while victory would see them climb to 16th place.
Three straight defeats have halted a brief revival, though, and Steve Kean's side have conceded five goals without reply in their last two outings.
Blackburn have, however, never lost four games in a row under Kean's tutelage and will be hoping to preserve that record.
Unfortunately for Rovers, a leaky defence that has kept just one clean sheet in its last 17 games at Ewood Park continues to pose a dilemma.
They have also won only two of their last 26 top flight meetings with Liverpool - although they did take the spoils the last time the two sides met at Ewood.
Liverpool will take heart from their record against their North West rivals, but their recent form has offered cause for concern.
The Reds have taken just nine points from 13 games in 2012, with rock-bottom Wolves the only side to have endured greater struggles since the turn of the year.
Kenny Dalglish's side have also lost six of their last seven away games in the league, including their last four in a row.
It is imperative that they address their alarming slump on Tuesday, with their next outing set to take them to the home of English football.
An eagerly-anticipated FA Cup semi-final clash with Merseyside rivals Everton awaits them on Saturday, and they will be desperate to head into that fixture with fragile confidence restored.
Team News
Blackburn will be without suspended on-loan striker Anthony Modeste.
The Bordeaux player will have to serve a three match ban after his red card for violent conduct during Saturday's 3-0 away defeat against West Brom.
Kean will check on the fitness of defender Martin Olsson, who suffered a shoulder injury at The Hawthorns, although he was able to complete the game.
Centre-back Daniel Agger is pushing for a return to the Liverpool starting line-up after making his comeback after a six week lay-off.
The Denmark international returned as a substitute in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa after recovering from a cracked rib.
Striker Andy Carroll could be set for a recall after three substitute appearance in four matches.
Pepe Reina is still suspended so Alexander Doni is expected to continue providing cover between the sticks.
Possible starting XIs
Blackburn: Robinson, Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, Formica, Nzonzi, Dunn, Pedersen, Hoilett, Yakubu.
Liverpool: Doni, Flanagan, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Bellamy, Gerrard, Spearing, Downing, Carroll, Suarez.