Mark Hughes hopes the confidence his Rovers players took from their performance in holding Arsenal to a goalless draw in the original FA Cup tie will stand them in good stead for the re-match.

Hughes said: "From our point of view, we took great credit from the fact we were able to bring them back to Ewood, having been beaten twice in the league by them this season.

"But we bounced back, we've drawn confidence from that, and we'll certainly need that tonight."

Arsenal will arrive at Ewood hoping to re-ignite their season following a bruising encounter with Chelsea in what has since been dubbed the Carnage Cup final'.

But with a home tie against Manchester City in the quarter finals awaiting tonight's winners, Rovers are preparing a feisty welcome of their own.

Hughes added: "It's a big hurdle to negotiate but if we do it then we'd really fancy our chances (of going all the way).

"With the UEFA Cup having gone for another year, that has really focused our minds on this competition, and our only remaining opportunity to win a trophy, so let's have a go."