Arsenal v Rosenborg
Arsene Wenger admitted the pressure is on the most inexperienced central midfield duo he has ever selected for a key game to keep Arsenal's Champions League dream alive against Rosenborg.
However, he has backed Mathieu Flamini, 20, and Cesc Fabregas, 17, to make light of the absence of experienced internationals Patrick Vieira, Gilberto Silva and Edu.
And he held out England full-back Ashley Cole as an example for the young duo, as well as Justin Hoyte, who will replace the suspended Lauren at right-back, to follow by securing their first-team futures.
Arsenal must defeat Rosenborg to make sure of their place in the knockout stages, but are without not only Gilberto and Edu, who are injured, but also Vieira, who is suspended.
Indeed, the Arsenal captain is also banned for Sunday's clash against Barclays Premiership title rivals Chelsea, with Edu not expected to recover fitness in time.
That leaves Fabregas, who made his first Premiership start this season, and Flamini, who has so far been on the fringes of the first-team, in the spotlight for two crunch matches.
Wenger admitted: "It puts a lot of pressure on them but it's a good learning process.
"Ideally I'd like Patrick to be there, but we can get over that.
"We have played without him before and done well.
"It's very difficult to plan at the start of the season that you'll be without Gilberto, Edu, Vieira and Lauren.
"But it's happened and I still feel we are good enough to win the game at Highbury as I know these boys will give 100% and they have some big experienced players around them.
"I'm not worried as they are both mentally strong and will put in the needed workrate.
"Both can achieve what is needed to win the game."
Flamini at least gained experience in Marseille's run to the UEFA Cup final last season, defeating Liverpool and Newcastle en route.
"He's an intelligent boy, has a quick brain, a winning mentality and is a ball-winner.
"His workrate is tremendous, higher than anybody else at the club, distance-wise," observed Wenger.
"He's just 20 so he's not the finished article for a central midfielder. But he looks to be strong mentally."
Fabregas, meanwhile, has been a revelation so far this season, even if Wenger had planned to rest him some time ago.
"The only problem is that he's played more than I expected. Ideally, you would give him a breather but I can't afford that," he added.
As well as that inexperienced duo in central midfield, Wenger will not only keep faith with Manuel Almunia in goal, but has to replace Lauren at right-back as he is also suspended.
With Pascal Cygan injured, he cannot move Kolo Toure across to the flank, but has faith in 20-year-old Hoyte to live up to his potential.
"I can't say I have a young squad and then, when the right-back is suspended, put someone else in there because he's inexperienced," he insisted.
"He has the potential to do it [replace Lauren on a long-term basis]. But there is only one truth - showing you can do it out there on the pitch when it matters.
"Ashley Cole is a great example. When I put him in, he convinced me that I couldn't leave him out any more.
"But the faith in these players is easier as they've played in big games before in the Carling Cup, such as against Manchester United in front of 67,000 people."
Rarely has the Carling Cup been used as a springboard into the Champions League, but needs must for Arsenal. Wenger can only trust his faith in his promising youngsters is justified.
