Albion boss Peter Taylor has offered words of encouragement to the youth team ahead of tonight's FA Cup fifth round tie at Aston Villa.

He said: "It will be a great experience for them. They will enjoy Villa Park. It's an nice big pitch, a lovely stadium and they deserve it. If they can handle going to Villa Park, it's a good sign that they can handle the first team game.

"The most important thing is the boys come off the park feeling good about themselves and if they go through to the next round that is an added bonus.

"What I like about Dean (Wilkins, manager) and Martin (Hinshelwood, director of youth) is they encourage the young players to play good football.

"Even against Leicester in the last round, where it was a big game for the club, they were prepared to play their way out of trouble."

Albion could field 11 players who have represented Sussex Schools in the last two years.

County Schools administrator Alan Ball said: "It just shows how strong the links are between the club and schools in Sussex. We wish them well."

Squad: Alex Bryant, Grant Vanson, Chris Breach, Darren Budd, Adam El-Abd, Nicky Bridle, Dan Beck, Dan Harding, Mark Windsor, Phil Bartholomew, Chris Greatwich, Chris May, Matthew Piper, Scott Kirkwood, Ben Watson, Gary Elphick, Mark Probert.

Albion centre of excellence full-back Sam Rents (Blatchington Mill, Hove) has been invited to a second England under-16s development squad session at Lilleshall next week.

Alex Harrison, from Eastbourne, helped English Schools' under-18s draw 2-2 in a friendly at Loughbrough University. He made one goal and had a shot tipped over the bar during an impressive debut.

Harrison, a former pupil at Willingdon School, starts a tour of the United States this week with England. He will then take part in the Home internationals for the Victory Shield. The first game is against Northern Ireland in Belfast later this month.

Football League referee Steve Tomlin (Lewes) takes charge of Sussex Schools under-16s in their South East Inter County Champ-ionship match against Buckinghamshire at Haywards Heath tomorrow (kick-off: 7.30pm).

Sussex under-16s: Chris May (Blatchington Mill, Hove), Lance Cronin (Portslade), Chris Breach (Blatchington Mill), Matt Hill (Falmer), Mark Price (Blatchington Mill), Gary Elphick (Longhill, Brighton); Matthew Piper (Lancing College); Scott Harris (Worthing High); Mark Probert (Tideway, Newhaven); Paul Joyce (Warden Park, Cuckfield); Daniel Hollands (Felpham); Jordan Leatherdale (Imberhorne); Ben Watson (King's Manor, Shoreham); Owen Callaghan (Dorothy Stringer); Rhys Whybourne (Bexhill); Matt Robb (Bognor Regis); Jamie Bristow (Oathall); Kevin Keehan (Blatchington).