IF the FA Cup is the dream prize for senior players, there is no doubt about which trophy quickens the pulse in the youth ranks.

The AXA FA Youth Cup is the top honour for young players across the country and on Sunday afternoon the Clarets starlets take their bow in this season's competition.

There is no doubt that they face a tough test against Manchester City at Maine Road but everyone at Turf Moor is hoping they will rise to the challenge.

Joel Pilkington is likely to be a key player for the Clarets who are missing a number of the youth team squad because they are too old.

Pilkington has been in very impressive form at both youth and reserve team level and is relishing the extra responsibility he has been handed after making the switch from full back to a central midfield role.

While he may not be the tallest player in that position he has regularly proved that he is very capable in the air, even scoring with his head in a recent victory against Carlisle United.

For Ronnie Jepson's reserves he has been an industrious figure, helping out at the back but regularly getting forward to support the attack and he will be needed at both ends at Maine Road.

His partnership with fellow youngster Andrew Waine has been impressive in the middle of the park but Waine, like Earl Davis and Andrew Leeson, is too old to face Manchester City.

The home side is an Academy club and therefore has a much larger pool of players to choose from.

With an eye to last night's Lancashire Youth Cup game against Tranmere and also the big game against City at the weekend the Clarets fielded a fairly young and inexperienced side against Bury in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

More experienced players Pilkington, Liam Eves, Matty O'Neil, Mark Rasmussen and James Salisbury were left on the bench to allow some of the club's younger players to have a run out.

The result was a second successive defeat although by just 1-0 after the disappointing 4-1 home defeat by Wigan three days earlier.

But such setbacks will be forgotten if the Clarets can go to City on Sunday and grab a victory.

There are no replays in the FA Youth Cup so Burnley fans who fancy going to the match are guaranteed to see a result one way or another.

The match kicks off at 2pm and entry costs less than a fiver, concessions do apply.