Paul Trollope hopes Bristol Rovers' glamour 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 FA Youth Cup and the Pirates anticipate a decent gate after handing out more than 1,000 free tickets to local schools, youth groups and sports clubs.

Rovers will start as massive underdogs against the club who have won the competition twice in the last three seasons and are flying their youngsters 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.

"It's a big test for our youngsters and they are 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!"

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 playing their 2-1 win over Leeds United in the last round.

Tom Ince – son of Paul – and Finnish striker Lauri Dalla Valle scored their goals.

Rovers will be looking for their own strikers to help spring an upset. Neikell Plummer is their leading scorer with 13 goals so far this term, 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 Liverpool 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: "Everyone will assume it will be a mouthwatering clash with Chelsea, but Bristol Rovers will have something to say about that.