Rovers could face Premier League champions-elect Liverpool in a friendly as both step-up preparations for the re-start of the 2019/20 season.

Tony Mowbray’s squad moved in to Phase Two of their return to training on Thursday, which permitted tackling and groups of up to 10, and they now look set to face the Reds in a practice match later next week.

Both Premier League and EFL clubs have been given the green light to host friendlies this week, albeit under strict rules which would see teams only able to travel within a 90-minute distance, and that the players would travel alone.

The two clubs have close links, and met in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2018, making Rovers an ideal opponent for Jurgen Klopp’s men who return to action with a Merseyside derby against Everton on June 21.

Liverpool held an 11-a-side game while training at Anfield on Monday and reports say they plan to arrange a friendly to improve their match sharpness. 

That could see them face Rovers in a behind closed doors match, though a venue hasn’t been disclosed, and any fixture would likely be dependant on neither side recording any positive cases of COVID-19 in the meantime.

Rovers return to action on June 20, with a week's break then until matchday 39. Games will then be scheduled for every three or four days up until the end of the regular season which will be on July 21 or July 22.

The play-offs have since been pushed back, and rather than July 30, are expected to be completed on August 2 or August 3.

Liverpool haven't played since the Champions League round of 16 second leg defeat against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, while Rovers' last competitive outing was three days earlier, a 3-0 defeat at Derby County.

Rovers' training numbers were boosted this week by the return of Lewis Holtby, the German midfielder having not been involved since suffering a knee injury in the draw with Middlesbrough in February.

Midfielder Corry Evans is another who would benefit from some match practice as despite recovering from his extensive facial injuries, the Northern Ireland international hasn't played a competitive fixture since January.

Elliott Bennett also returned to training on Friday after his period of self-isolation after recording a positive COVID-19 test.