Arsenal's young guns are set to face their toughest challenge yet as they travel to Eastlands to face big-spending Manchester City.
With an injury crisis descending on the club, Arsene Wenger will see this as the perfect opportunity to see to rotate and give the younger members of his squad a chance to impress.
Arsenal's youngsters have fired their side into the quarter-finals for the past seven seasons and have progressed to the semi-finals four of those times.
Called into the squad will be the likes of Kyle Bartley, Craig Eastmond, Jack Wilshere and Sanchez Watt.
Mixed with this will be the experience of players like Mikael Silvestre and Phillipe Senderos.
Of his selection policy, Wenger told Arsenal.com: "It will be a team that has a chance to win.
"I [also] want to give a fair chance to those [young] players who have waited for this game. It will be a typical Carling Cup side."
Mark Hughes, on the other hand, is expected to put out a full-strength squad and have been boosted by the return of Robinho, Vincent Kompany and Micah Richards.
Emmanuel Adebayor, who appeared to stamp on Gunner Robin van Persie in the league tie at the Emirates, and Kolo Toure will also line up against their former employers.
Gareth Barry is a doubt for the Citizens, though, despite the groin injury which kept him out of the 1-1 draw with Hull City at the weekend not being serious.
City boss Mark Hughes said: "At times the experience of the so-called youngsters is greater than you'd think. If you look at games played they're not lacking in experience. They know what it's about and how Arsenal play.
"There will be experienced players to supplement the younger element. I would suggest that the team we go up against will have a good smattering of certainly Premier League experience."
-by David Brenchley
Source: DSG
