Charlie's demand from glamour game

The Scholars open the Bluebirds' new Cardiff City Stadium tonight (7:45pm) in the first official game to be played at the ground.

Blakemore wants a professional performance and for his team not to become over-awed.

He said: "If anyone goes there to treat it as a showcase game I will bring them straight off. I want a professional performance for 90 minutes.

"We're expecting 600 to 700 fans to go and we want to give them a performance to remember.

"We've got to focus on putting in a good performance. The gap is massive. They play at the top of the Championship and we are a Unibond South side.

"Everyone expects us to get a trouncing, so we have to get really well organised.

"I'm not going to throw everyone on because it could become a farce. I'm going to play as many as I can, but I'll do it properly and professionally."

Blakemore hopes the players can still enjoy the game, which is the first to be played in the new stadium.

The Scholars have developed a special relationship with the Bluebirds since their FA Cup third round clash last year - which Cardiff won 3-1 at the Scholars Ground - and were invited to open the new stadium.

Blakemore said: "It's a once-in-lifetime experience. It's fantastic and a big honour to play in such a big stadium.

"For many of the lads, if not all of them, it'll be the biggest crowd they would have played in front of.

"We're expecting 15-20,000 there, so it's going to be something to remember for the rest of our lives – it's fantastic to be part of it."

Captain Richard Teesdale is also relishing the prospect of facing Cardiff.

He said: "It's a game we have to take seriously, because it's one more step closer to the league and that's what we're looking at.

"It's a fantastic occasion to be involved in, but we've got to treat it properly."