Playing away to a team that has won its last 21 home games is demanding in itself.

However, Watford Under-21’s lead coach Omer Riza will be pitting his young professionals – most of whom are teenagers – against a Berkhamsted side that has a lot more experience of senior football, as well as that incredible home record.

A place in the final of the Herts Senior Cup is at stake, and having been to check tonight’s hosts out, Riza is under no illusions about the test that lies ahead.

“I’ve watched them a couple of times and it’s not going to be an easy game,” Riza said.

“Berkhamsted will try to win those first balls and get onto those second balls.

“Our recent match against Bristol City was a little taster of what we will be getting, and we have to be brave enough to stand up to that and play with the intensity required.

“It will be a really interesting game, I’m really looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to talking through how we can attack this match.

“We are young and Berkhamsted will have a lot of senior players who have been around that non-league environment for a long time. They are aggressive in what they do and we will have to match that.

“We won’t be falling short of that area and we will try to go toe-to-toe with them. We will have a good go, we will have a game plan and hopefully we can implement it.”

A cup semi-final against local neighbours running away with their league in front of what could be a bumper crowd will be an exciting test for the Under-21s.

“I look forward to every game and this is what it is all about; playing matches, learning and developing,” said Riza.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to play competitive football and win something.

“Of course, our main target every season is developing young players and we have spoken about what we have achieved this year in respect of the debuts in the first-team and the opportunities that some players have had training with them.

“There has been some fantastic stuff, but you still need to win. You still need to apply yourself in the right way in order to win. Against Berkhamsted, we want to win playing against a strong and aggressive side.”