THE winners from the previous two seasons meet head-to-head tomorrow in the third round of the FA County Youth Cup.Suffolk, winners in 2008, face Birmingham, who triumphed in last season's final, at the Walter Goodman Stadium in Birmingham, kick-off 1.

Nick Garnham

THE winners from the previous two seasons meet head-to-head tomorrow in the third round of the FA County Youth Cup.

Suffolk, winners in 2008, face Birmingham, who triumphed in last season's final, at the Walter Goodman Stadium in Birmingham, kick-off 1.30pm.

It will be a tough tie for Suffolk, who have already disposed of Norfolk (3-0) and Cambridgeshire (5-4) in this season's competition, especially as they are without captain Elliot Hunter, who is still injured, and suspended Bury Town team-mate Luke Ingram.

Added to that Lowestoft Town striker Christy Finch, who scored four of the goals against Cambridgeshire, has since signed for Cambridge United, but Suffolk manager Andy Gould remains upbeat about his side's chances.

He said: “We are not as strong as in previous rounds, but when we went to Norfolk we didn't have Finch and Hunter was not available against Cambridgeshire.

“But I think we have a good chance of achieving a positive result and going through to the last eight.

“I expect them to be strong. They have a big catchment area, although I don't think last year will have any bearing on this match. We have had them watched and no doubt they have done the same to us.

“We will miss the players who are unavailable, but we have won four out of four so far this season and have a good history in the competition, and if we can perform on the day we have a good chance of going through.”

Suffolk squad: Nick Pope, Fred Howe (both Bury Town), Shane Barnes (Cornard Utd), Joe Boreham (Bury Town), Jack Cole (Leiston), Joe Clark (Lowestoft Town), Jack Wilkinson (Needham Market), Matt Cripps (Cornard Utd), Josh Curry (Bury Town), Alex Holmes (Kirkley & Pakefield), Danny Hitching (Bury Town), James Lane (Newmarket Town), Danny Swain, San Nunn (both Cornard Utd), Luke Wade (Needham Market), Ryan Clark (Bury Town).