  Detection of blazar pc scale counter-jets is difficult, but it can provide
invaluable insight into the relativistic effects, radiative processes and the
complex mechanisms of jet production, collimation and accelation in blazars. We
build on recent populations models (optimized using the MOJAVE apparent
velocity and redshift distributions) in order to derive the distribution of
jet-to-counter-jet ratios and the flux densities of the counter-jet at
different frequencies, in an effort to set minimum sensitivity limits required
for existing and future telescope arrays in order to detect these elusive
counter-jets. We find that: for the BL Lacs $5\%$ of their counter-jets have a
flux-density higher than 100mJy, $15\%$ are higher than 10 mJy, and $32\%$ have
higher flux-density than 1 mJy, whereas for the FSRQs $8\%$ have a flux-density
higher than 10mJy, $17\%$ are higher than 1 mJy, and $32\%$ are higher than 0.1
mJy (at 15 GHz). Future telescopes like the SKA and newly operating like
e-MERLIN and JVLA may detect up to $99\%$ of the BL Lac and $77\%$ of the FSRQ
counter-jets. Sources with both low apparent velocity and a low Doppler factor
make prime candidates for counter-jet detection. Combining our findings with
literature values we have identified five such counter-jet detection
candidates. Finally, we discuss possible effects beyond relativistic deboosting
that may complicate the detection of counter-jets and that need to be accounted
for in the interpretation of detections.
