Posh face the Hatters knowing a victory is vital for progression in the competition.
Peterborough United entertain Luton Town at the ABAX Stadium on Tuesday evening (7.45pm) in the final group game of the Checkatrade Trophy knowing that a victory should secure progress into the knockout phases of the competition, providing the margin of victory is more than the potential winners of the other group game.
Posh remain unbeaten in the competition but have come out on the wrong end of penalty shoot outs against Milton Keynes Dons and Brighton and Hove Albion under 21s while the Hatters are already through after two wins.
TEAM NEWS
Posh boss Steve Evans has confirmed he will make changes to his starting line-up with goalkeeper Conor O’Malley in line for a start between the sticks. Evans has hinted that he may call-up a number of under 18s to his squad following their progress in the FA Youth Cup against the same opposition and a 1-0 win at Gillingham on Saturday.
With the Hatters already through, they are sure to rest some of their key men for the contest but they still have plenty of strength in depth at Kenilworth Road. Defender Jack Senior has definitely been ruled out. The 21-year-old has played both of Town’s group stage matches so far this term, while has appeared in 13 out of the 14 matches Luton have played in this competition since it switched sponsors from Johnstone’s Paint at the start of the 2016-17 season.
Danny Hylton is suspended while Frankie Musonda is unable to feature as part of his loan deal. Luke Berry and Dan Potts could be given some game time.
MANAGER QUOTES
“We will make changes to the side that faced Bromley and get some players some game-time and we may look to give some of the younger players an opportunity. However, we are taking the competition seriously, we want to progress and we will do our best to get the victory that we need,” Evans said.
FROM THE OPPOSITION
“Berry and Potts are both in full training, so eligible and if they’re right up to it, then yes (they’ll play). But we won’t bring them in because this is a different kind of game to a league game, we won’t just put them in because it is one of those games,” Luton boss Nathan Jones said.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets are available for just £5 for adults and £1 for U18's and are available at www.theposhtickets.com, via the Ticketmaster hotline 0844 847 1934 (calls cost 7ppm plus your network access fee) and in person at the ABAX Stadium Box Office. The Weston Homes London Road Terrace and the Motorpoint Stand are closed for this fixture.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The match referee is Andy Woolmer.
COMPETITION RULES
If the game is level at the end of 90 minutes, the tie will go straight to penalty kicks.