Sunderland under-18s will begin their merit group fixtures with a Tyne-Wear derby on Saturday.
Mark Atkinson’s side are in Group C and will kick off their next round of matches this Saturday at Newcastle’s training ground.
A home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers then follows for the young Black Cats before April starts with an away trip to Leicester City.
While Swansea City face a mammoth trip to Wearside on Saturday 8 April, Atkinson’s side face a seismic trip themselves as they round off their Group C campaign on the South coast at Southampton in May.
Sunderland’s fixtures in full
Saturday 11 March – Newcastle United U18 v Sunderland U18
Saturday 18 March - Sunderland U18 v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Saturday 1 April – Leicester City U18 v Sunderland U18
Saturday 8 April - Sunderland U18 v Swansea City U18
Saturday 22 April – West Bromwich Albion U18 v Sunderland U18
Saturday 13 May – Southampton U18 v Sunderland U18