Blackburn Rovers' new signing Alex Baptiste will make his Championship debut for the club in tonight's opening clash against Cardiff City.

Winger Ben Marshall has been placed on the bench after recently suffering a sickness bug, while Rudy Gestede has been handed a forward role alongside Jordan Rhodes.

Meanwhile, former Reading striker Adam le Fondre will make his competitive debut for the visitors to Ewood Park.

The forward starts up front alongside Kenwyne Jones and Nicky Maynard as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men look for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Blackburn Rovers XI: Robinson; Baptiste, Hanley, Kilgallon, Olsson; Cairney, Lowe, Evans, Conway; Rhodes, Gestede

Subs: Kean, King, Dunn, Marshall, Varney, Williamson, Taylor

Cardiff City XI: Marshall, Brayford, Connolly, Hudson, Fabio, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Daehli, Maynard, Le Fondre, Jones