Colin Kazim-Richards is looking to drag his former side into a relegation battle and boost Derby County’s hopes of staying in the Championship with victory at Ewood Park tomorrow night.

The seven-goal top scorer will lead the line for the Rams who are four points and three points behind Rovers going into tomorrow night’s game.

Rovers are eight points above the dropzone, but games in hand for third-bottom Rotherham United, and matches to come against five sides below them in the table, means Tony Mowbray’s side still have work to do.

They will hope that a positive result against the Rams will do just that, but Kazim-Richards, who scored five times during his one season stay at Ewood in 2012/13, is fully focused on helping his side pull clear of trouble

“Friday could also pull someone else right down there with us. In reality, that is what we need to do – it is a cut-throat business, and we need to pull and step on as many people we can,” he told his club’s website.

“That is exactly what we need to do. Ultimately, we want take away three points from the game because it doesn’t just help us on the table, but for the morale too, to come away with three points. That is what it can do.”

The former Brighton and Sheffield United strriker added: “The game on Friday is a massive one and we are ready. There is not really much more talking we can do, it is down to the five games we have left. It is sink or swim to put it blatantly.”

Meanwhile, manager Wayne Rooney is hoping for a boost on the fitness front.

Rooney, who believes his side will ‘100 per cent’ stay in the division this season, will be able to call upon the services of full back Nathan Byrne against Rovers.

However, Matt Clarke is doubtful, while Martyn Waghorn, Lee Gregory and George Edmundson have all been ruled out.