Albion are targeting their first-ever triumph in the National League Cup competition when they travel to Boreham Wood on Tuesday evening (ko 7pm).
This is the young Baggies' second time competing in the tournament - which provides stern tests against fifth-tier opposition.
And their clash in Hertfordshire will be no different, with the Wood ending the month of August unbeaten from four league matches.
Last time out
Ollie Bostock got off the mark for the 2025/26 campaign, but the young Baggies were unable to come out victorious from their opening NL Cup group match at Forest Green Rovers.
They lost 3-1 at the Bolt New Lawn stadium, but showed plenty of positive exchanges in their play which they will hope to replicate on Tuesday night.
Venue
Albion Under-21s will play at Boreham Wood's main venue, the Mangata Developments Stadium Meadow Park.
It will be a quick turnaround for the surface to host Tuesday's NL Cup clash with the Baggies, having only played Morecambe in the National League last weekend.
The schedule may see boss Luke Garrard rotate his side for the match, while the academy hopefuls from the Black Country will be keen to get the ball rolling having not played since their 1-1 PL2 draw with Crystal Palace on Friday, August 29.
Pre-match thoughts
Senior PDP Coach Downing is determined to get the Baggies' young guns off the mark in the National League Cup ahead of their Group B bout with Boreham Wood.
Harry Whitwell's loan move to Forest Green following Albion's first group match against the fifth-tier outing in the competition proves how beneficial these matches can be for the progression of the club's academy hopefuls.
U21 boss Downing knows the only way to gain more experiences against senior teams is by staying in the NL Cup which, naturally, involves winning games to advance in the tournament - something which Leigh and his staff are hoping to achieve in Hertfordshire on Tuesday evening.
"Tuesday's a game I'm looking forward to," said Downing.
"I went to the Forest Green game to watch the team, ahead of getting the Lead 21s job, and saw the whole experience and it is the closest thing to first-team football they can get at this level for our lads.
"If you look at the competition so far, ultimately, Harry Whitwell - one of our best prospects - earned a loan move off the back of that game against Rovers. So, these are important fixtures for our boys and one good game against this sort of opposition could give them an opportunity to go and get a loan move in the future.
"The learning, experience of playing against older, more experienced professionals where results matter for them, is a great test for our boys.
"It's our second time being in the competition and the lads didn't win any games in it last year, so what I've said to them is: 'you want to give the best account of yourselves, so let's try and get some results in the competition'.
"We want to have more experiences of those games and winning them is the only way we'll do that."
How to follow
Tuesday's National League Cup group match between the Baggies and Boreham Wood will be streamed live from the Mangata Developments Stadium Meadow Park.
Supporters will need a YouTube account to watch along, with the feed available from 15 minutes before kick-off (6.45pm) here.
Click on the ‘live’ section and select Albion’s fixture to view. Updates will also be posted across the club’s social media channels throughout the match.
