Paul Trollope hopes Bristol Rovers' glamour FA Youth Cup tie against Liverpool at the Memorial Stadium tonight can help to breed a new generation of Gasheads.

Billy Clark's youngsters take on the Merseysiders in the fourth round of the competition and the Pirates anticipate a decent gate after handing out more than 1,000 free tickets to local schools, youth groups and sports clubs.

Bristol Rovers will start as big underdogs against the club who have won the competition twice in the last three seasons and are flying their side to Bristol for the game (7.30pm).

With admission only £3 (adults) and £1 (concessions), the Pirates are optimistic of a big walk-up crowd to see a Liverpool side containing a number of youth internationals.

"Hopefully we can get a few people who haven't been to the Memorial Stadium before interested in Rovers," said first-team coach Trollope.

"It's a great game for our kids and hopefully they won't be overawed because they have put in some very good performances to get to this stage. If they can reach that level again, it should be a cracking game.

"We hope it will encourage youngsters who are coming here for the first time to put on Rovers shirts and become Rovers fans.

"It's a really big test for our youngsters and they are well aware of that – but Billy is an experienced football man and will know what to say to them.

"If they do pull off an upset they will be at home to Chelsea in the next round – so if they are going to go all the way, they'll certainly have to do it the hard way!"

Like their Anfield seniors, Liverpool's youth side have a multi-national flavour with Aussie keeper Dean Bouzanis, Spanish defender Daniel Ayala, German midfielder Christopher Buchtmann and Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic featuring in their 2-1 win over Leeds United in the last round.

Their goals were scored by Tom Ince – son of former Blackburn boss Paul – and Finnish striker Lauri Dalla Valle.

Rovers, whose youngsters all attend Filton Academy, will be looking for their own strikeforce to help spring an upset.

Neikell Plummer is their leading scorer with 13 goals so far this season, while Eliot Richards has 10.

"Liverpool are a massive scalp at this level, just as much as we are at first-team level, and the boys have to handle that pressure," said the Merseysiders' youth coach Hugh McAuley.

"Like all cup competitions, the FA Youth Cup is a one-off. It's what happens on the night."

Academy director John Owens added: "The match in Bristol may not fulfil the players' dreams of playing at a top-level ground, but it will provide them with other challenges that are just as important on the learning curve of the professional game.

"We will have to be prepared to battle and make sure we give a good account of ourselves. If the boys can come through unscathed, then they know they will have a home tie at Anfield to look forward to.

"Everyone will assume it will be a mouthwatering clash with Chelsea, but Bristol Rovers will have something to say about that. We will have to keep our focus and make sure we do our job."

Clark, who played at Anfield for Rovers in the FA Cup during his days as a central defender, said: "There are going to be nerves, but hopefully excitement will take over tonight and as long as our lads believe they have a chance, then they will be fine.

"It will be the biggest crowd they have ever played in front of and hopefully they will rise to the challenge."