COWDENBEATH manager Liam Fox is well acquainted with the challenge his team faces tonight against Celtic 20s in the Barrs Irn Bru Cup.

The Blues have been drawn against the Celts' young guns in this unique competition where the Premiership youth sides get the chance to take on teams from the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2.

While many of the top division 20s teams have lost out in the previous round Celtic and Rangers 20s won through to round two and Cowden now have the chance to pit themselves against the young Celts.

As a key part of the Hearts' youth coaching set-up last season Mr Fox knows all about the Celtic 20s side.

He said last night: "Celtic have proved season after season that they have the best 20s team in the country so we will not find it at all easy tonight.

"They have some very talented players in their 20s side but clearly it is a competition we want to do well in and we will be going all out for a win."

He will continue to be without centre-half Gerry McLauchlan who is struggling to shrug off a rib injury but striker Kris Renton is now free from suspension will be in the squad and could start.

The manager wants his team to put on the same attacking performance they gave at Forfar but tighten up at the back.

He added: "We played really well in an attacking sense at Forfar on Saturday but defensively we were not nearly as sound as we were against Elgin and were punished.

"If we can defend better but produce the same attacking flair as we saw at Station Park we can get through this tie."

The game has a 7.45 start.