Andrew Davies is confident the “Middlesbrough mafia” can do another job for City at Bristol Rovers.

With Luke Oliver touch and go with his strained hamstring, Lee Bullock stands by to carry on at centre half.

Oliver has trained all week but Bullock’s performance against Burton last week eases the pressure on Phil Parkinson to bring him back early.

Davies and Bullock travel into the club together from Teesside every day and formed a solid pairing against the dangerous front duo of Calvin Zola and Justin Richards.

Davies was impressed with his makeshift defensive partner, especially as Bullock was starting for the first time since the opening day of the season after a long injury absence.

He said: “I thought Bully was fantastic considering he hadn’t played for such a long time.

“Obviously he’s out of contract in the summer so he’s scrapping for everything. I know he’s a good lad who just wants to do well.

“You know what you’re going to get from him. It’s not really his position and he normally plays centre midfield but I thought we did well together.”

Rovers head into Mark McGhee’s first home game on a high after taking seven points from the last nine. They have kept back-to-back clean sheets against Crawley and Cheltenham and have not done it three games in a row since March 2010.

City number two Steve Parkin said: “It’s a tough game for us. They’ve just changed managers and that can give the place a lift.

“But we’re positive and looking forward to it.

“We’re beginning to get players back in the squad. We’re going down there with strong numbers and feel we can put on a good showing.

“If we play with the same desire and commitment we showed at Southend, it will be a tough day for Bristol.”