Steven Nzonzi begins a three-match suspension for Blackburn but Gael Givet is available again after his ban, while midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen has recovered from the illness which forced him to miss last week's draw at Arsenal.
Vince Grella has been ruled out for the rest of the season after an Achilles operation while fellow midfielder Keith Andrews is still not match fit after a groin operation
Birmingham winger David Bentley and defender Martin Jiranek have been ruled out of the clash.
Former Rovers player Bentley is suffering from a groin problem while Jiranek has not recovered from the toe injury which required surgery.
Eight-goal leading scorer Nikola Zigic and fellow striker Obafemi Martins are given only a 50-50 chance of being fit by Blues boss Alex McLeish.
The duo are both troubled by groin injuries while, in addition, Zigic also has concerns over a hip problem.
James McFadden and Scott Dann remain on the sidelines with knee and hamstring problems and are unlikely to return from long term lay-offs this season.
Blackburn (from): Robinson, Nelsen, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Salgado, J Jones, Emerton, Dunn, P Jones, Hoilett, Santa Cruz, Biram Diouf, Bunn, Roberts, Pedersen, Hanley, Kalinic, Rochina, Formica, Benjani.
Birmingham (from): Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Parnaby, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Phillips, Jerome, Doyle, Davies, Murphy, Fahey, Zigic, Martins, Beausejour, Mutch.
