Tony Parkes: The uncertainty has effected the players

Leicester are favourites to reach their second semi-final in the competition in three years after winning the trophy in 1997.

Managerless Blackburn, on the other hand, need to reach the semi-finals for different reasons.

Barry Mullins: Kidd is top of the list for the job

Rovers are desperate to lift the gloom at Ewood Park following their slump to the bottom of the Premiership and the departure of manager Roy Hodgson.

Leicester striker Tony Cottee is still struggling to overcome a thigh injury and O'Neill will check tomorrow on the fitness of midfielder Muzzy Izzet who turned an ankle in training.

Sutton sits out trip to City

Blackburn caretaker boss Tony Parkes will be relying on youngsters, but unlike many Premiership bosses who recruit reserve team players for the Worthington Cup, it will not be through choice.

Tony Parkes: Has no choice but to recruit youngsters

He has particular problems up front and will be without Chris Sutton - still injured after completing a suspension - and Nathan Blake, who is cup-tied.

That leaves the door open for club record signing Kevin Davies to start alongside Scottish international Kevin Gallacher.

But Darren Peacock, Tim Sherwood, Tim Flowers, Billy McKinlay, Jason Wilcox and Garry Flitcroft are all out.

Teenagers Damien Duff, Damien Johnson, and David Dunn will all play.

French midfielder Sebastien Perez, out for a couple of months with a knee problem, is back in contention.

Parkes said: "Let no-one be in any doubt about how seriously we are taking it. Our position in the league is irrelevant in that respect.