Newcastle United Under-23s host Newcastle Benfield in the Northumberland Senior Cup first round on Wednesday night and Jack Young is expecting a difficult encounter against the non-league outfit.
The young Magpies, who have won the competition a record 38 times, take on the Northern League Division One side at Whitley Park (kick-off 7.30pm BST), bidding to reach the quarter-final stages.
Young, who made his Newcastle first-team debut during a 3-2 pre-season victory at Doncaster Rovers in July, is anticipating a tough test against the Lions, with the two teams having faced each other in the tournament back in January 2020 as Newcastle's second-string prevailed in a penalty shoot-out, following a 1-1 draw at Benfield's Sam Smith's Park.
"It will be a very different type of game, a one where we will have to show a different skill set and deal with direct play," the Morpeth-born midfielder told nufc.co.uk. "We've had experience with that this season in the Papa John's Trophy so hopefully we can get the ball down and play, making it our kind of game instead of theirs.
"We're taking this game as seriously as every other match. We know the challenge it will be and I think the experience we had in playing against them two seasons ago will prepare us as it was a tough game.
"Every game we go into, it's to win and the coaches have said at the start of this week how good it would be if we can get three wins. One win is out of the way (a 4-0 Premier League Cup triumph against Birmingham City), we're fully focussed on the Benfield game and hopefully we can progress into the next round and then that will put us in good stead for the Sunderland game the week after."
Newcastle's youngsters are aiming to record successive cup victories this week after claiming a 4-0 Premier League Cup win against Birmingham on Monday night.
Young, who featured as a second-half substitute against their Blues counterparts, is hopeful the squad can repeat similar success against Benfield whilst registering a third consecutive home victory in the process.
The 20-year-old, who made his senior debut on loan at Tranmere Rovers last term, added: "The lads who played on Monday were really good and the clean sheet was massive.
"Everyone put their bodies on the line and the main thing was we took our chances as well. Hopefully, we can do that again on Wednesday.
"I think the performances this season have been good but the goals sometimes haven't been dropping in. We were clinical in front of goal but the big thing is we need to control games more, especially with the players we have, for the full 90 minutes.
"The healthy competition in the group is really starting to show, with people having to work for their places. When you're on the pitch, you have to give everything for 90 minutes because there is someone waiting to take your place."
Supporters will be able to attend Wednesday's Northumberland Senior Cup tie at Whitley Park, with season ticket holders gaining free admission otherwise it's £3 for adults and £1 concessions.