Albion team-mates Paul Reid and Kerry Mayo are vying for the right to face relegation rivals Leicester as Joel Lynch goes in search of FA Youth Cup glory.

Reid or Mayo will take Lynch's place at leftback for the Foxes' visit to Withdean on Saturday.

Lynch, 18, has been rested from first team duty and plays instead in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup against Blackburn at Ewood Park tonight (7pm).

Lynch, just called up for the England under-19s, was given his fifth Championship start in succession in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Coventry.

He has made an encouraging impact at senior level but was at fault for Coventry's second goal and manager Mark McGhee has decided to call upon the more experienced Reid or Mayo.

"Joel will play in the Youth Cup," McGhee confirmed. "That is not because of one performance.

"Saturday was the least effective of his performances but I think young players like him have to go in and come out until such time as they stay in.

"If we can get him another couple of spells in the team before the end of the season then next year, after a good pre-season, we should have a player.

"It means we have got to make a decision between Reidy and Kez. They know that and will be competing this week for the position."

The versatile Reid, preferred to Mayo at leftback earlier in the season, was relegated to the bench at Coventry after playing recently on the right side of midfield.

Mayo's last Championship start was as a goalscoring central midfielder in the 2-1 defeat at Southampton on January 2.

Joe Gatting, who made his senior debut as a late sub against Saints, is expected to recover from a calf injury to lead the attack at Blackburn tonight.

Richard Martin, 17, takes over from the injured John Sullivan in goal as Dean Wilkins' kids try to book a quarter-final trip to St James' Park, Newcastle.

Martin, on the bench last Saturday, and Lynch were among 12 players in the squad that faced Coventry aged 23 or under but McGhee refuses to use that as an excuse.

"One of the things we are proud of is that we have young boys in the team but I watched Ipswich and Tottenham at the weekend and they are full of young players.

"So it's not an excuse, the young players have got to improve to the point that will win us games. They have got to demand that of themselves and we have got to demand that of them."