Rochdale take on Premiership outfit Birmingham City this Thursday evening in the second round of the Carling Cup and Dale boss Keith Hill knows it's going to be a tough encounter, but one he is very much looking forward too.

"I really am looking forward to the game. I have ambitions of becoming a Premiership manager one day and at the minute I'm not a Premier League manager so this is my opportunity to pit my wits against a Premiership manager and a Premiership side.

"The same can be said by the players, they have ambitions to be Premier League players so it is a great prospect and represents a good challenge for us.

"I'm not sure how many supporters will be at St. Andrews, especially as the game is now live on Sky, but it would be great to play in front of a big crowd because it would give our players the sort of insight of what it is like to play a big stadium against a Premier League side and for that night we can all imagine we are a Premiership side."

Today the financial prize of playing in the Premiership far outweighs those in The Carling Cup and this has been reflected over the years by the sides Premiership clubs have fielded for the competition. Hill believes Birmingham will field a so called 'lesser' team but he's under no illusions about the quality of the opposition on Thursday.

"I'm sure for Birmingham City this Carling Cup competition falls down the pecking order especially in the early rounds and it will be their opportunity to play some of the fringe players. Alex McLeish may want to rest some of his key players in pursuit of his success in the Premier League because they finished really well last season so he'll want to build on that and improve so it won't be disrespect if he plays a squad team against us.

"We are under no illusions this will be a tough game because whatever team Alex puts out it will be a terrific team. They have good resources and an excellent squad. Like I said before, for us it is an experience and we are looking forward to it."