The Millers are buoyed by Easter Monday's win over Brighton which gave them some much-needed breathing space in their fight to avoid the drop, but they could be drawn closer to danger if they don't get it right against Boro.
Here's five key points ahead of the game.
Expect Richie Smallwood to show Boro what they're missing
After almost 18 months at Rotherham, first as a loanee and then as a permanent player, Richie Smallwood has absolutely nothing to prove to Millers fans. His arrival last January coincided with the team's season-defining run of form, he scored a penalty on that memorable day and Wembley and if he doesn't win the club's player of the year award this season then he will have been robbed.
But Smallwood does have something to prove to those at Middlesbrough. The 24-year-old came through the ranks at the Teeside club and had his heart set on a long and distinguished career playing in the famous red shirt. But, despite making over 70 appearances for them, boss Aitor Karanka told him in the summer that he was surplus to requirements and his dream was taken away from him. He has proved he can cut it at this level for the Millers this season, what are the odds on him putting in another of his usual composed and patrolling performances at the stadium where he learned his trade.
The Millers are searching for back-to-back wins
Winning one game has proved difficult enough for Steve Evans' men this season, so it is no surprise that they have failed to record back-to-back wins in the Championship. In fact, you have to go back over a year to find the last time the Millers won successive league games, coming in League One when they beat Bristol City and then Gillingham. A trip to the Riverside will perhaps not present them with their best chance of breaking their duck this season, especially given the Millers' poor record of building on wins. Their last two victories - over Millwall and Huddersfield - were followed by poor results against Cardiff and Wigan, with defeats coming after a win five times in total this campaign.
The Millers have to avoid the two-goal salvos
In each of their last seven defeats Rotherham have been undone by quickfire goals from the opposition which has effectively killed the game off. At Wolves it was two goals in seven first-half minutes, Watford scored two in two minutes after the break while a lacklustre Cardiff were gifted three in 11 crazy first-half minutes. A dominant first-half display against Nottingham Forest saw Evans' men go in 2-0 down thanks to goals in the 43rd and 45th minute while two in 15 minutes before the break handed the game on a plate to Birmingham. And then of course there was the home game against Sheffield Wednesday, but we don't need to talk about that.
It is absolutely imperative the Millers keep their concentration and foot on the pedal for the entire 90 minutes, but in particularly the opening 45 minutes and the first 15 after the break. The longer they stay in the game, the more the home side will be frustrated and then, just maybe, the Millers might have a chance. If not then another afternoon like the one at Wolves may be on the cards.
How can they stop Patrick Bamford
The Rotherham central defenders, whether it be Craig Morgan, Kirk Broadfoot, Farrend Rawson or Kari Arnason have always been more comfortable this season playing against a big target man type striker. But whoever plays at the Riverside, and it is almost certainly going to be Broadfoot and Rawson barring late injury, will have to find an effective way of dealing with the imperious Patrick Bamford. Bamford is a different type of striker to the likes of Troy Deeney or Cameron Jerome. He is a lot silkier, drops deep and finds space and enjoys running and defenders. The on-loan Chelsea star has scored 17 goals this season and is clearly Boro's main threat going forward, notching a variety of different types of strikes, including efforts from distance. But stopping Bamford, who the Millers tried to sign last season, could be the key to stopping Boro as Karanka's men have not won when Bamford hasn't scored since January and they have not lost this season when he has scored.
4-4-2 v 4-5-1
Rotherham's return to a triumphant 4-4-2 against Brighton on Easter Monday resulted in a potential season-defining win and generally the Millers have been at their best when they have played that formation, deploying a high-pressing, direct game. Evans has often opted for a more defensive-minded 4-5-1 away from home, with Matt Derbyshire carrying the attack on his own with Connor Sammon in recent weeks put out on the right. That has virtually nullified them as an attacking force and as a result they have been sitting ducks in several games. With his side 2-0 down at Birmingham last Friday, Evans changed to a 4-4-2 and it had a big impact as they dominated the second half and should have come away with at least a point. The Scot now has a choice to make, does he revert to the 4-5-1 formation and put Jordan Bowery (or Sammon) to the right side or does he say, 'let's go for it'? They are very unlikely to be able to contain Middlesbrough for 90 minutes regardless of how many men they put behind the ball so playing a 4-4-2 and getting men forward at least gives them a chance of scoring and being in the game.
