HEREFORD United's on-loan defender Lee Collins sees Sunday's FA Cup tie with Cardiff City at Edgar Street as another major step in his football development.
The teenager, whose loan spell from Wolves has been extended until the end of the season, said: "When you get to my age, you need to get out to play some competitive football."
Collins, who has displayed his versatility by playing across the back-four added: "There is a lot more passion and everyone wants to get in there and play.
"Hopefully I have improved as a defender overall since I have been at Hereford. But I have learned not to take anything for granted."
Collins played in the second round win against Hartlepool and both Tranmere ties and is now looking for further progress.
"It would really be nice to get a win against Cardiff on Sunday and get a Premiership side in the next round," he said.
"I hope we can get automatic promotion, if not then to win the play-offs and then stay up in League One next year."
But there are plenty of challenges ahead on Sunday including a top-quality opponent in the Cardiff attack.
"I'm really looking forward to playing against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink," said Collins. "He's a legend but he's pushing on now, but I expect he'll show me a few things!"
But Collins lacks nothing in confidence. "I am predicting we will win 2-1," he said.
Full-back Trent McClenahan sees the game as a chance to put this week's 4-0 drubbing at Chesterfield into history.
"Sunday is a great chance to put Monday's defeat behind us against a big team like Cardiff," said the Australian.
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