BLACKBURN Rovers' Academy players will aim to succeed where the first team have failed by making progress in a major Cup competition next week.

Rob Kelly's young guns will go head to head with West Bromwich Albion in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night.

And the prize for the victors is a home tie against Gillingham in the fifth round.

Rovers boast an excellent record in youth football's blue ribbon event, having reached the final on two separate occasions in recent years.

But although they start next week's game as clear favourites against Albion, Academy director Bobby Downes has warned his players about the dangers of complacency, particularly as the tie must be settled on the night.

"West Brom are a big, strong side who relish a physical battle and we've got to be prepared to compete with them in that department," said Downes.

"They beat Tottenham at the Hawthorns in the last round so they are not going to be frightened about playing another Academy.

"The FA want ties settled on the night these days and that can favour the underdog -- not that I'm saying West Brom are the underdogs in this instance.

"It just depends what happens on the night. We know from experience that you can't predict how your kids are going to react.

"West Brom will come with nothing to lose and we've got to be ready to match them."

Rovers set up the meeting with Albion after comfortably disposing of Bury Town in the third round.

However, next week's game will be played at Morecambe's Christie Park rather than Ewood after the club decided to protect the pitch for the first team -- a decision which has caused anger amongst some season ticket holders.

A club spokesman said: "We applied to the Football Association for permission to move it to protect the pitch at Ewood.

"That is something a number of Premiership clubs do in the early rounds of the FA Youth Cup. They try to play the games at an alternative venue if they can.

"If we get through against West Brom, no decision has been made as yet as to where the Gillingham game would be played but we would give it every consideration."

Rovers had to concede home advantage all together in one round of the competition last season.

They drew Blackpool at home but ended up playing the game at the Seasiders' Bloomfield Road stadium instead in order to protect the playing surface at Ewood.

While it makes good sense to keep the pitch in pristine condition -- and few surfaces in the Premiership are better than Rovers' -- it's denying the club's young players an opportunity to play on Ewood, which is disappointing considering the likes of David Dunn, Damien Duff, Martin Taylor, Paul Gallagher and Jay McEveley have all earned their stripes in the FA Youth Cup before progressing onto the first team stage.