The Carabao Cup third round sees the entrance of the Premier League's big hitters, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool among those in action.
However, the tournament remains more notable in the early stages as fertile ground for young players to show their ability, either in the hope of more first team football or as a calling card for stellar careers to come.
Here, Sportsmail runs the rule over 10 youthful stars who are set to shine in these midweek fixtures...
Mason Mount (Derby)
An attacking midfielder in the vein of Frank Lampard, the Chelsea loanee could not hope for a better manager this season than the former England midfielder. Part of England's under-20 World Cup winning squad, Mount is blossoming in the Championship with regular game time. A visit to Manchester United is the perfect platform for him to show just what they hype is all about.
Aro Muric (Manchester City)
When No 2 goalkeeper Claudio Bravo suffered a serious knee injury, Pep Guardiola did not think twice about recalling this 19-year-old stopper from his loan spell in Holland to provide back-up to Ederson. With the Brazilian set to be rested for the visit to Oxford United, Muric - whose ball-playing abilities are reminiscent of the City No 1 - will get his moment in the spotlight.
Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
Costing £19million at just 19 years old will always bring added pressure to the already huge expectations of playing at United, and fans have seen little of Dalot after he arrived injured from Porto. However he impressed against Young Boys on debut in the Champions League, and if he plays well against Derby, a Premier League bow will surely be coming soon.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)
Chelsea are famous for their productive youth system, and infamous for not channeling that talent into regular first team action, and instead to an endless spiral of loans. Hudson-Odoi, 17, has not been sent out however, and is instead impressing in the Premier League 2 reserve league. He may not start against Liverpool on Wednesday but a showing off the bench is possible.
Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal)
He became the first Gunners player born in the 21st Century to feature when he came on against Vorskla in the Europa League, and promised afterwards to give his match shirt to his mum. Smith-Rowe hugely impressed in pre-season and has Arsenal fans hungry to see more. A first competitive start against Brentford on Wednesday is possible.
Kieran Dowell (Everton)
Another under-20 World Cup winner, Dowell was expected to be in the first team last season but instead spent an impressive year on loan with Nottingham Forest. Back at Everton, his only appearance has come against Rotherham in the Carabao Cup second round. He will likely start again against Southampton, and provide a timely reminder to manager Marco Silva.
Domingos Quina (Watford)
Swapped West Ham for Hertfordshire in the summer in the hope that he would have a better shot at breaking into the first team at Vicarage Road - and proved why with a magnificent debut goal against Reading in the previous round. A Portuguese under-20 international with a full repertoire of tricks and flicks to unleash on Tottenham, he could light up... er, Stadium:MK.
Harry Chapman (Middlesbrough)
The third under-20 World Cup champion on this list, Chapman has found opportunities hard to come by under Tony Pulis, and has already been shipped out three times on loan in his short career. He came off the bench in Boro's wins over Notts County and Rochdale in this competition, and the fans would love to see this versatile attacker play a major role against Preston.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (QPR)
While team mate Ebere Eze is getting more of the plaudits in the Championship, it is Osayi-Samuel who has starred in the Carabao Cup, tearing Bristol Rovers apart in round two. A Blackpool academy product, he joined Rangers last summer and comes up against his former club on Tuesday night, with the intention of proving to Steve McLaren he deserves regular league action.
Harry Wilson (Derby)
Another top-flight loanee, this time from Liverpool, who is impressing under Lampard at the iPro Stadium. He toyed with Brentford at the weekend and scored his first Rams goal before being subbed off to a standing ovation. He made his senior Wales debut at 16, and now at 21, everything is set for his club career to take off too.
Ernesta
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Wilson the best....challenge me l bet H. Wilson my future Star
runaway
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Mason Mount is the best player among these by far.
Funearl
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Mason Mount, Hudson-Odoi and Smith-Rowe are all genuine top English talents. It will be good to see them play. I am concerned though that the immensely gifted future England star, Curtis Jones, appears to have taken his foot off the peddle already and has developed a touch of the "Loftus-Cheek syndrome".
Morganfreeman
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These players may have potential, but until they do it at the highest level on a consistent basis, potential is all they have. Carragher said a week or so ago that it is far too easy to get into the England squad at the moment. I don't normally agree with him, but he is 100% right. A player needs just 3 good games in the Championship and he will be a contender for England. What next? It will be consistent performers in League being fast tracked to the full national squad.