Alan Reeves will be looking to his more experienced young players to form a reliable spine for AFC Wimbledon at Hackney Wick tomorrow night.
Toby Sibbick (pictured), Alfie Egan, and Jayden Antwi make up a trio of players with first-team experience for the Dons against Essex Senior League club Hackney Wick. Goalkeeper Nik Tzanev and defender Paul Kalambayi are other members of Alan's development team set for London Senior Cup duty, but it will be a very young AFC Wimbledon squad.
With the first-team at Southend on the same night, Alan wants his youngsters to rise to a difficult challenge.
"We will have a lot of Under-18s involved and they do not regularly get a chance to test themselves against senior opposition," said Alan. "It will be a tough game for them against a team of men as they are used to taking on other academy teams. Tomorrow night will be a different kind of test for them and hopefully they can rise to the challenge."
Alan will once again utilise the versatility of Osaze Urhoghide in defence with an injury jinx having hit his options for the left flank. Tom Scott and Neset Bellikli have suffered back injuries (both stress fractures), joining Seth Owens on the sidelines.
"We are not having much luck at left-back," added Alan. "When you have a small squad anyway, the injuries make it more difficult. Osaze will fill-in there and you know what you are getting with him. You can hang your hat on him."
It's just £5 entry for spectators at Hackney Wick tomorrow night. The full address for the venue is as follows: Old Spotted Dog Ground, 212 Upton Lane, E7 9NP.