Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim has told the players he selects for Tuesday’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy game at Reading they must be “ruthless”.
Jardim could give some fringe players in his squad a chance to impress in a tie that will see the winners advance to a regionalised round of 32.
He said: “In football it is ruthless, they know that, they have to take that chance.
“They have to show, especially in these games, they are up to it, they are at it every time they play, they are committed and focused and they have that enthusiasm and energy.
“When you lose that you are going to suffer. You need that and they have to show that again and again.”
Jardim is likely to reshuffle his pack following last Saturday’s 2-1 League Two defeat at Tranmere Rovers.
This game could offer defender Shane McLoughlin a chance of a first start since limping out of action nearly two months ago in the 4-1 League Two home defeat by Port Vale.
Since returning from a knee injury, McLoughlin has been eased back into action with two substitute outings.
Newport are currently third in Southern Group H following a 2-1 home defeat by Cheltenham Town – in which young goalkeeper Jacob Carney was shown a red card – and a 1-0 win over West Ham United Under-21s.
Cheltenham have guaranteed their place in the last 32 by winning all three games to top the group.
But the second placed side also progress and Newport are level on points with their hosts Reading but with an inferior goal difference.
Jardim said: “We want to go through. The first game saw one of the best first halves we have had.
“Then we had the sending-off of Jacob that changed the game and obviously put us in the position where we have to go there now and win the game. But we want to win and go as far as possible in this competition.”
Carney is available again after his dismissal in the Cheltenham game, but Jardim will also have number one keeper Nick Townsend available after he turned down international duty for Antigua and Barbuda this week to remain at the club.