He has insisted it is vital for the future of the game in the country for the players to gain experience.

Only two senior players will feature in the game in Tashkent - captain Norhafiz Misbath and Moh Amri Yahyah - as the South East Asians look to get off the mark in Group C.

Rajagopal’s side suffered a 5-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates in their only game in qualifying so far but a win over Uzbekistan would see them move joint top of the standings.

A defeat would all but end their hopes of progressing but Rajagopal insists the gamble of playing youth is a risk worth taking.

"The line-up is made in the best interest of the future of the national team," Rajagopal said in the Malaysian Star.

"I would have brought in a few more senior players but our objective is to work for the future. With the Laos SEA Games around the corner, we are taking a risk by fielding the Under-23 boys.

"But we have to hope for the best."

Mohd Amri, who scored twice in a friendly against Manchester United earlier this year, will be the man tasked with scoring against the Uzbeks, who are three points ahead in the group having beaten the UAE in January.

Skipper Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, who featured in those matches, remembered the thrashings, which resulted in the sacking of Norizan Bakar as national coach.

“I was there before and I know what to expect against the physically stronger Uzbeks,” said the national centreback ahead of the national team’s clash against Uzbekistan in a Group C match of the Asian Cup qualifying tournament in Tashkent today.

Uzbekistan will be heading to Malaysia on 18 November.