Pilgrims expected to ring the changes for cup game

PLYMOUTH Argyle and their Premier League visitors Crystal Palace are both expected to make plenty of changes to their teams for the Carabao Cup second round clash at Home Park tonight (7.45pm).

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

The Pilgrims have a chance to reach the third round of the competition for the first time since 2007, when then as now they were a Championship club.

However, after painful back-to-back 2-1 defeats by Southampton and Birmingham City, Argyle's priority this week is undoubtedly the home league game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

So Schumacher is likely to use the Carabao Cup tie to get game time for members of his squad who have not been involved much in Championship action this season.

One of them is defender Julio Pleguezuelo, who could captain the team against Palace, just as he did on his Argyle debut in the 2-0 first round home defeat of Leyton Orient, when Schumacher made a total of 10 changes.

Pleguezuelo's only other run-out for the Pilgrims this term came as a 78th minute substitute against Birmingham at the weekend.

New Zealand international striker Ben Waine is expected to start tomorrow with the in-form Ryan Hardie on three goals in four league games, among the substitutes instead.

Waine netted both of Argyle's goals against Orient and will be looking to build on that performance in the second round tie.