Luke Wilkshire to call on Wollongong Wolves young guns in Australia Cup

Coach Luke Wilkshire is expected to make a number of changes to the side that fell to Marconi on Saturday, providing an opportunity for numerous youngsters.

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A first-half penalty crippled the Wolves' chances, with the Stallions adding a late goal to secure a 2-0 win.

Wollongong have little time to regroup, the side to face Western Rage in a fourth-round Australia Cup fixture at Ian McLennan Park on Tuesday. The match will be their fourth in 12 days.

"The best thing about our schedule is we get to play straight away," Wilkshire said. "There will be changes. We need to freshen things up and win that game to get through before we focus on our league game at WIN Stadium on Friday night.

"There's been some very good performances from players in our 20s. They deserve an opportunity, we need fresh legs. It's an opportunity for some of those guys to step up."

Despite a tough start to the year, Wollongong enter Tuesday's game as favourites.

Western Rage are last in the Football NSW League Three competition, formerly known as NPL4, the side winless from seven games and losing 6-2 to UNSW on Saturday.

Wollongong made it to the round of 16 in last season's Australia Cup, the club desperate to return to that phase of the competition.

Wilkshire, however, will not allow his team to be complacent on Tuesday.

"We've seen the attention that gets drawn towards those later rounds," Wilkshire said. "When you go further you get the chance to play A-League opposition, it's a massive opportunity to boost your club's profile.

"They're the games we're striving for but you've got to get through the earlier rounds to get to those games.

"Every game is an opportunity, we need to make the most of every game we have."

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