The Iron get their Central League Cup campaign underway on Tuesday afternoon as they face Port Vale at Vale Park (kick-off 2pm).
SCENE-SETTER
The Iron's Under-23s head into the encounter off the back of a 2-0 defeat against their West Bromwich Albion counterparts at the Sands Venue Stadium in the first of six group stage games in the Premier League Cup.
The side put in a very encouraging performance against the Baggies, who were clinical with their two goals on the night, and will look to get off the mark in their league cup campaign at the first time of asking.
The hosts Port Vale also get their Central League Cup campaign underway with West Bromwich Albion currently table-toppers following a 4-3 victory over Mansfield Town. Peterborough United are the other team making up the five-team Group Three.
The winner of each Group’s One – Three plus the runner-up with best record from these groups will progress through to North / Central quarter-final.
TEAM NEWS
With no midweek first team fixture, manager Paul Hurst may take the opportunity to give Under-23s manager Russ Wilcox a few players for crucial game time following recent injuries and omissions.
One of those might be Andy Dales, who has recently returned from a hamstring injury. He was a used substitute against Leicester City's Under-23s in the Leasing.com Trophy before being an unused alteration in the two recent league games against Bradford City and Plymouth Argyle.
Club captain Andy Butler may also feature after recent injury and illness.
Adam Kelsey made a first return to the side following his recent finger injury, while academy players Cameron Wilson and Harry Jessop are both expected to travel. The former was rewarded for his impressive youth team displays with a start on Friday night and could get more minutes, while forward Jessop came off the bench against West Brom.
Elsewhere, Jack Lambert is expected to continue to miss out as he recovers from an ankle injury. John McAtee (shoulder) and Omar Sanyang (ankle / leg) remain sidelined.
LAST LINE-UP: Kelsey, Horsfield, Butroid, Hornshaw (D Gallimore, 78), Cummings, Rowe, O'Malley, Pugh, Potts (Jessop, 71), Ben El-Mhanni, Wilson.
ELSEWHERE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE CUP
Carlisle United U23s v Wigan Athletic U23s (2pm)