SIMON Grayson would love to see City tackle Blackburn next season in a Championship fixture.

The Bantams make their first trip to Ewood Park in 28 years tonight for a crucial TV tussle.

Rovers are storming towards an immediate return to the second tier and will go top of League One with a win.

But City, buoyed by breaking their win drought against Gillingham, could move within a point of the top six in their bid to follow them up.

Grayson said: “It would be great for us to be playing each other next year in the Championship.

“Both teams have been in the Premier League before, been regulars in the Championship and have got fantastic facilities, stadiums and fan bases.

“But you’ve got to earn the right to do that. Big teams have found their way back up the pyramid but every club in League One and League Two are there for a reason.”

With three sides vying for the two automatic promotion spots, this could be a potential play-off dress rehearsal if Blackburn do miss out.

“From my perspective, it would be brilliant because it means we’ve got to the play-offs,” added Grayson.

“For them, they would be disappointed because they want to finish in the top two.

“It’s going to be very nip and tuck for them, Wigan and Shrewsbury until the end of the season.

“They’ve been up there for a large part of the season and have got some very talented players.

“I do genuinely believe they have a stronger squad now than they had this time last year in the Championship.

“But we’ll go there with a belief we can win and that’s certainly our intention.”

Grayson hopes City can build on the boost of securing his first win in charge against Gilllingham – which finally ended a run without a victory stretching back to New Year’s Day.

“It has been a long time coming for everybody and has certainly lifted the belief.

“You hear a bit more laughter around the place and the players are talking about things more.

“We’ve got to use that confidence going into this Easter period. If you manage to get two wins, it can put you in a really strong position for the final push.”

Grayson is unlikely to chance it with Tyrell Robinson, who tweaked his groin in the Doncaster defeat ten days ago.

He said: “The last thing you want to do is rush a player back and it goes again and you lose him for the rest of the season.

“He’s done well for us and gives us something different that we’ve not got in the group and that’s pace.”