JAN Poortvliet will give his young guns their first acid test by fielding them against Celtic at St Mary's tonight.
Saints' new head coach, pictured, will name a team with an average age of just over 23 for the Claus Lundekvam testimonial match against Gordon Strachan's Scottish champions.
The game will prove a massive test for the likes of Lloyd James, who will start at right back, and David McGoldrick, who is to be given the nod in attack.
Poortvliet insists he is not yet near to being settled on his starting XI for the Championship season but, after impressive pre-season performances from his youngsters, he wants to see how they handle a pressure situation.
He said: "Tonight we will go with the young guys.
"They will play because, at the moment, they deserve this chance and I have to see them in a big game.
"It's important, because every game in the Championship is a big game and I need to see their reaction.
"The quality is there and physically they are there and I'm looking forward to seeing a game against Celtic where I will look at the formation and how I want to play, how we're capable of playing and the team and that is important."
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