Town will hand first starts to Aidan Collins and Jimmy Juan when they take on Yeovil at home in the first round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday (KO 7.45pm). Canadian midfielder Jaime Peters will also make his first home start as boss Joe Royle rests a number of his senior players.

Skipper Jim Magilton is left out of Royle's squad is having treatment on an arthritic toe problem. The Town boss will also rest Fabian Wilnis and Darren Currie, while the young 'Dean Machine' strikeforce of Bowditch and McDonald will continue against the League One side.

Collins, 18, will come into the side for Wilnis at centre-half, having made his debut as a sub at Derby on the final day of the 2002/03 season. Juan has made two appearances from the bench this season, the latest in the 2-1 over Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

Boss Joe Royle says the game provides Collins with a chance to gain some senior experience: "Aidan Collins will start at the back alongside Richard Naylor and it will be a good opportunity for him to play first team football.

"He made his debut as a 16-year-old but has had injury problems over the last two years which have hindered his progress. He's also had a big growing spurt but is fit now and we'll see how he gets on."

Royle says that loanee Juan, who has suffered with a recurrent foot injury in his time at Town, is very much in his plans for the season ahead: "Jimmy will get his chance and is a talented footballer who has a part to play here, we believe."

Lewis Price, who came close to scoring in last year's Carling Cup tie with Brentford, is not far from a return after injuring his knee at Leicester last week but may not be risked, in which case Shane Supple will continue in goal.

Town also include youngsters Scott Barron and Chris Casement in their squad. Barron, back in action after a groin injury in the summer, made his senior debut in the Carling Cup against Brentford last season.

Casement, 17, made his second reserve start against Portsmouth last week after impressing in the FA Youth Cup-winning run last season. The Northern Irishman also did well on the first team squad's pre-season tour of Hungary.

The Blues haven't played Yeovil since the two sides were in the Southern League back in 1937/38 when the West Country side were known as Yeovil and Petters United. Town played the Glovers four times in Southern League matches during that period, winning two and drawing two but losing an away 1937/38 FA Cup first round tie 2-1.

Yeovil have signed two Argentinian strikers in the last week, Luciano Alvares and Pablo Bastianini, the latter making his debut in their weekend defeat at Barnsley. Both are likely to be in action against the Blues, although boss Gary Johnson is still waiting on international clearance for Alvares.

Town squad: Bowditch, Barron, Casement, Collins, Currie, Garvan, Horlock, Juan, McDonald, Naylor, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito, Supple, Westlake, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls