Sammie Szmodics has the ball in the net for Blackburn.

Tyrhys Dolan makes a run and picks up the ball deep in the Preston half before whipping in a cross from the right but he's correctly flagged offside in the build-up.

Not long to go until half-time and it's still goalless at Deepdale.

Preston's Daniel Johnson tries a left-footed strike from outside the Blackburn box but he's immediately blocked.

Image source, PA Media

In case you weren't aware, one of the assistant referees at Deepdale this evening is Constantine Hatzidakis.

It is the first time Hatzidakis has officiated since an incident with Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.

Hatzidakis hasn't had a lot to do so far in this game.

Blackburn are awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area just outside the Preston box as Ben Whiteman brings down Adam Wharton with a pretty cynical challenge.

Tyler Morton sends the free-kick in but it's headed away by Troy Parrott immediately.

There must have been some impact there as he soon goes down and receives treatment.

Alvaro Fernandez once again puts a low ball in across the face of the Blackburn box.

But Ben Whiteman sends a tame low, bouncing effort straight into the hands of Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears.

An unmarked Brad Potts is given possession after Alvaro Fernandez slides the ball to him.

But the Preston man sends his shot from long range high and wide of the mark.

Lewis Travis looks to handle the ball at one end as Preston go on the attack but Blackburn keep it alive and work it to Tyrhys Dolan.

Eventually Freddie Woodman makes a diving save to deny a dipping Joe Rankin-Costello shot from the edge of the North End box.

Tyrhys Dolan weaves his way into the Preston box and the hosts eventually clear his low ball away, but he manages to work back onto it.

Eventually North End win the ball back but Dolan and his Blackburn teammate Sorba Thomas are making things awkward for the hosts at the moment.

There's a good atmosphere and plenty of sunshine at Deepdale for tonight's game.

So much so that both dugouts are having to cover their eyes as they watch on the proceedings.

Things have calmed down somewhat in the past few minutes after a high energy start.

Sorba Thomas sends the corner into the Preston box and North End make a bit of a mess trying to clear it before they win a free-kick courtesy of a Blackburn foul.

This is a bit of a cagey start at Deepdale.

Image source, Rex Features

Blackburn come into this trip to Deepdale off the back of a five-game winless run in the Championship.

Their past three games have resulted in draws and they're short of goals, scoring just three times since their last win against Reading on 15 March.

Despite this, they remain in with a shout for a play-off place.

They win a corner as they keep Preston pegged in their own half.

Sorba Thomas sends in another ball from the right as Blackburn look to strike back after that Tom Cannon drive at the other end.

Tyrhys Dolan gets on the end of it but his effort at the far post is blocked by Preston.

Oof!

Big chance for Preston to take the lead and it's a let off for Blackburn.

Josh Onomah picks out an unmarked Tom Cannon in the Rovers box and he lets fly with a low shot which rolls just past the left-hand post.

Sorba Thomas whips in a ball into the Preston box as Blackburn go on the attack early on at Deepdale.

The hosts sheepishly clear straight into the path of Lewis Travis but the hosts manage to win back the ball soon after.

BBC Radio Lancashire

Unfortunately we cannot bring you live radio commentary of this game on this page.

But the fine folks of BBC Radio Lancashire are in position at Deepdale to take you through the game live.

Andy Bayes is joined by Kevin Gallacher and Steve Eyre and if you're in the Lancashire area, grab a radio and tune in.

A huge game in the battle for the Championship play-off places?

A Lancashire derby?

A Saturday evening kick-off?

Ah go on then.

And here's how the visitors start this evening.

Blackburn make four changes to their side with Sam Gallagher missing out through injury.

Harry Pickering, Tyler Morton, Sorba Thomas and Tyrhys Dolan start.

Blackburn: Pears, Rankin-Costello, Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Travis, Morton, A Wharton, Thomas, Szmodics, Dolan.

Subs: Kaminski, Brittain, S Wharton, Garrett, Hedges, Dack, Brereton Diaz.

Here's how Preston line up to take on Blackburn.

They make three changes after their defeat by Swansea in midweek as Patrick Bauer, Josh Onomah and Troy Parrott come in.

Preston: Woodman, Fernandez, Whiteman, Bauer, Johnson, Storey, Parrott, Hughes, Onomah, Cannon, Potts.

Subs: Cornell, Lindsay, Slater, Ledson, McCann, Woodburn, Delap.

This is the lay of the land in the battle for the Championship play-offs going into tonight's game at Deepdale.

It's incredibly tight in that battle for the top six, isn't it?

Milwalll's defeat by relegation-threatened Wigan has really opened things up.

Victory for Preston or Blackburn tonight will be massive in their pursuit of a top six spot.

I think we're in for a cracker.

Image source, BBC Sport

Let's turn our attention to tonight's late game.

And with the fight for the Championship play-offs hotting up, this game could be good.

Preston take on Blackburn in a late Lancashire derby which could have massive implications in the play-off race.