Rovers secured their first win under Kean at West Brom on Tuesday and will hope to emulate Blackpool's recent success in claiming three points at the Stadium of Light. The Seasiders won 2-0 there on Tuesday despite their opponents having 34 attempts and Kean insists his side will not head to the north-east simply trying to avoid defeat. "What we should do is take the positives from our last game when we created a lot of chances," the Scot told the club's official website. "We got a lot of good quality in the final third and hopefully it will be a game that is played in their box and not ours. "Sunderland are solid, they work on that a lot as you can imagine with Steve Bruce being a great defender himself. "He likes his defenders to put their bodies on the line." Kean is keeping his fingers crossed that key defender Christopher Samba, who has apparently changed his mind about wanting to leave Ewood Park, will be fit to face the Black Cats. The centre-back faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury with Kean rating him as 60-40 to make it, although Rovers will be without first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson after he aggravated a calf injury in the win at West Brom. Mark Bunn, who replaced Robinson at the Hawthorns, is set to deputise with Frank Fielding drafted into the squad as his back-up. Kean, who is also without striker Nikola Kalinic and full-back Michel Salgado through suspension, added: "During this tight period you pick up injuries and Sunderland are probably feeling it as well. "It is a time of the year when your squad is really utilised, we've got more than our fair share of injuries, Sunderland have a few doubtful as well, but hopefully it will be a good game." The injuries and suspensions affecting more established players mean Kean will bring in some younger faces, with French midfielder Herold Goulon added to the matchday party for the trip to Wearside and young midfielder Michael Potts being handed squad number 36. The manager said: "Over the last few weeks we've started to give out squad numbers to some of the young lads who haven't had them before, that is how short of players we have been. "But the flip side of that is it is an opportunity for some of the younger guys to come into the team, to be part of the squad, they are definitely ready to be involved so it is a good opportunity." Rovers could finish the weekend in seventh place, with a victory taking them above Sunderland. Blackpool, who are above Blackburn on goal difference currently, face a difficult game away at Manchester City on Saturday.
