Lance Cronin will be on the substitutes' bench for Crystal Palace against Liverpool in the fourth round FA Cup replay at Anfield tonight.

The 17-year-old goalkeeper from Portslade gets his opportunity with first-teamer Alex Kolinko in dispute with Palace and reserve keeper Cedric Betherlin promoted.

Cronin said: "It is right place, right time. It's brilliant news.

"A friend of mine told me I was in and I went to check on the noticeboard where they put up the team sheets before games and there I was.

"I am really looking forward to it. To being part of a match that should include players such as Michael Owen is exciting.

"If I get on I intend to swap jerseys with their goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek.

"I am not wishing Cedric gets badly injured, but I wouldn't mind him getting a little knock so I can get on.

"If it happens I will be a little nervous when I warm up to go on but after that I will be okay because I will be concentrating on my game."

Cronin made his first appearance on the Palace bench as a 15-year-old Portslade Community College schoolboy against Manchester City. He was a last-minute substitute in the 1-0 defeat against Leicester in the league on Saturday because Kolinko withdrew.

The former Albion centre of excellence player has a busy week.

He played in Palace reserves' 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers on Monday night, is in line for an FA Youth Cup home tie against Notts County tomorrow and due to visit Forest with the first team on Saturday.

Liverpool will be missing Vladimir Smicer and Steven Gerrard through suspension tonight. Owen is expected to start.