Dean Saunders believes Wales can "give Russia something to worry about" if they produce a World Cup qualification victory over Azerbaijan on Saturday.
Wales' assistant manager knows they will be fielding a team of raw youngsters in their opening Group Four qualifier at the Millennium Stadium.
The fear is those same kids could be badly exposed next Wednesday when they face Russia in Moscow, but Saunders is confident the Welsh youngsters can get their campaign off to a winning start.
"If we win against Azerbaijan we have some breathing space to say to the Russians 'come and beat us' - it will give them something to worry about," Saunders said.
"In football, unless you win, you are not right, but if you get a good result people take notice.
"There's always someone who says you are doing something wrong but we have lost five games in the last 19, so we have had a terrific run."
Saunders is acutely aware of the damage that could follow bad defeats for youngsters at this level, but Wales have got little choice over the next week, with another worrying injury list.
"Sometimes it's a worry when you put young players in. If things don't go well you lose them because of confidence," Saunders explained.
"But because of the results we've had, it's worked out nicely.
"We have not suffered bad results, and we took a very young side to Bulgaria, for example, and won.
"So some of the kids will have come off the pitch thinking they can play at this level.
"The danger is getting hammered and you never see them again. Luckily it's gone well for us."
Wales have doubts over Jason Koumas (ankle) and Robert Earnshaw (hamstring), but Saunders has confidence in teenagers Chris Gunter, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
"The young players have done okay, and showed they can cope - they know it themselves," he added.
"But this game is something totally different, a World Cup game. We are going to take the game to them and we are going out to beat them. We have winners on the pitch and when the ball drops, they want to be first to it.
"It would be a blow not to win but you have to think positive. It won't come into our thinking. We have enough here to go out and give a good account of ourselves."
