The B Team gets the chance to end its season with silverware when they face Burnley’s Under-21s in the final of the Lancashire FA Senior Cup, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites will be looking to win the trophy for the first time since 1991 in what could be a big day for the club’s academy sides.
While the B Team will be bidding to emulate the Youth Team’s success in winning their version of the county cup, the U18s could make it a double earlier on Tuesday if they can get the point they need to win the EFL Youth Alliance’s northern section.
Two games in one day have left playing resources stretched, with a number of youngsters also currently involved at first-team level, but B Team boss Andy Taylor sees that as a positive situation.
“It'll round off the season nicely,” said Taylor, whose side knocked out Blackburn Rovers and holders Barrow to reach the final at the Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland (KO 7.30pm).
“In the past few weeks there's been a bit of limelight put on the academy and the youth team with a couple progressing and getting opportunities in the first team, which is brilliant and what it's all about and what we're trying to do.
“That's been really good. The U18s are having a really good season and hopefully they can finish the job off and then we've got this final on Tuesday, so it's progression and a nice way to round off the season.
“The whole point is that your strongest players, or a lot of your strong players, are not with you as much as you'd like, because they're either hopefully progressing to your first team, as a few have, or going out on loan and doing really well.
“That gives an opportunity for someone else to come in, so we don’t quite know what side we’ll have yet as the 18s have got a fixture they need to be competitive in. But we’ve earned the right to go and enjoy it, give it a good go and try and compete and win the game.”
Burnley have also run into fixture congestion as they play twice in two days at U21 level. The Clarets follow their game against Wanderers with a semi-final of the Premier League Cup against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Wednesday night.
The Turf Moor outfit is not short of players, however, and recently secured a second-place finish in the northern section of the Professional Development League.
“Burnley are a good team at this level,” Taylor added. “They've got a cup semi-final on Wednesday so they might be a little bit different, but obviously they are a strong side at the moment.
“They're a top academy now and they've got a good number of players within their system as a result of that, so I don't know whether they'll be resting players or strong.
“I don't know, but we can only put out what we can put out and just go there and have a good go and enjoy it and try and make the most of the occasion by winning the game.”
Admission to Tuesday's final at the County Ground is payable with cash at the gate, priced at £10 for adults and £5 concessions.
The Youth Team plays at Chesterfield on Tuesday morning (KO 11am). Julian Darby’s side lost its unbeaten record last Saturday and needs a point from their final two games to overhaul Wrexham at the top and win the northern title.