Preston North End begin their FA Youth Cup campaign at Deepdale with a mouth-watering third round tie against Manchester City, who won the competition in 2008.

The Lilywhites youth team are currently displaying great form in the league, sitting three points clear of the Youth Puma Alliance North West Conference with a game in hand on second place Walsall.

However, Preston's Director of Youth Dean Ramsdale knows just how difficult a prospect Manchester City will be, with the club's academy developing a vast number of young talented players over the last few years. Ramsdale told pne.com:

"Man City in the past years have been the pinnacle of what youth departments have tried to emulate. It's probably getting on to about 30 players from their academy who have played for either City or other clubs and it's a massive ask. We're really looking forward to it and we will see how far we have come."

"We always go and watch City because that is predominantly where all of the best players are. The department know what they're all about but really we have tried to keep it low key for the lads because what we want to do is make it like any other game, and that is purely what it is."

North End have faced a few academy sides over the years, with Ramsdale believing that the current crop of youngsters can take inspiration from previous seasons, especially from last season's victory against Reading at the Madejski Stadium . He said:

"Since we have been at the club, every year we have played academy teams. We've played Sunderland twice, West Brom, Reading and we have had tough draws all of the way through.

"We had some good players last year that played in the Youth Cup, Conor McLaughlin played last year but misses out by a month this time.

"We had Danny Mayor, Adam Barton, Phil Quirk, Tom Smyth, Dominic Collins, all of those players did really well for us and Reading was a really tough place to go to, but we played really well on the night.

"We've proven that we can match ourselves against academy sides. We've been to the Stadium of Light and lost by the odd goal, Sunderland beat us here last year in extra time and we played West Brom here at Deepdale the other year and beat them quite comfortably.

"We've played against academy teams, we've done okay but it is another massive test for us on Saturday."

North End should have a fully fit squad but are just waiting on Neil Dougan who took a knock on his knee in Preston's 3-0 win at home to Rochdale. Dougan and striker Ryan McGreevy both joined North End from City and Ramsdale believes the duo will be looking forward to this fixture.

"I have to say that they have both been fantastic since they have been with us," Ramsdale said.

"The youth coaches have now got friends who work at City and getting Neil and Ryan through was through Steve Eyres, who is assistant director at City.

"Therefore we have got a good relationship with City but it is probably a little bit extra special for Dougy and Ryan purely because they spent time at City. I'm sure they will have an extra spring in their steps on Saturday."

Ramsdale believes that North End's youth team must not be overawed by the occasion and must just play to their strengths. He said:

"We think we know how they're going to play, I'm sure they know how we're going to play because we have played a certain way all season.

"Talking to Jamie, I'm not sure if we will change it, one or two things we may change ever so slightly but we have got to go and play to our strengths.

"I think that is the most important thing, we have got to try and stamp the way we want to play on the game, I'm sure there will be chances for both teams but I just hope that we take our chances and they don't take theirs."

This promises to be a cracking game between the two sides and Ramsdale has urged fans to come along to Deepdale and back the boys. He said:

"I hope that supporters come down to Deepdale and watch the boys. I have to say that we are starting to increase our numbers at the training ground who come to watch us play.

"I think that word has gone around that they watch decent football when the youth team play, so hopefully those people will turn up along with our centre of excellence boys from under 16's all the way down to under nine's.

"If we could get a couple of thousand then that would be great and we would appreciate that. Again, a little bit more vocal support could prove to be the difference."