Richie Barker insists he will treat tonight’s Johnstone’s Paints Trophy clash like any other game.

The Crawley boss will resist the urge to make wholesale changes for the visit of League Two side Newport County (7pm).

His hand may be forced by injuries, illness and the unavailability of Joe Walsh, pictured below, due to his Wales Under-21 call-up.

But Barker is adamant the match remains an important fixture on Crawley’s calendar.

The Reds go into the game on the back of a six-match unbeaten run after Friday’s impressive 1-1 draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Newport have already captured one scalp in Sussex this season after knocking Albion out of the Capital One Cup at The Amex in August.

Barker said: “It is an opportunity for us to go and win another football match.

“Out of all the cups it is the one, if you are honest, you have got more chance of winning. It will be taken as seriously as any league game.

“You have to add to the fact that after Tuesday we don’t play for another 11 days and it will be a real shame if after some tremendous hard work over the last six weeks we end up signing off for 11 days with a defeat or a poor performance and a defeat.

“The Brighton result is one I will be reminding the players about. We are treating them with as much respect as Sheffield United away, we have done the same amount of homework, the players will prepare in the same way and they will know the same information about Newport.”

Billy Clarke is struggling with a medial ligament knee injury while Michael Jones is a doubt with a sore rib.

Defender Kyle McFadzean is also a concern due to illness after playing at former club Sheffield United with a heavy cold.

Barker added: “We will reassess people and decide where we want to go from there.”