Stags' boss Steve Evans says he will make 'significant changes' for tomorrow's Checkatrade Trophy Group G tie against Notts County and will challenge the players involve to stake their claim for a place in the starting line-up against Exeter City on Saturday.
Stags face the Magpies at Meadow Lane tomorrow (Tuesday 24 October, 7.45pm kick-off) in the second of three Checkatrade Trophy group stage matches.
We were defeated 3-1 by Lincoln City in our opening match as the gaffer used the tie to rotate his squad ahead of a busy September period.
And the boss will again use the competition – which the club won in 1987 when it was known as the Freight Rover Trophy – to make changes to his side and provide players with an opportunity to win a shirt for Saturday's Sky Bet Legaue Two clash with the Grecians.
"We want to go there and represent our football club with some pride, but at the same time, I'm just honest with our supporters," the Stags' chief said.
"I watch managers around this Checkatrade [Trophy] and they blag it that they're going to be at full strength and then make nine changes, and suchlike. We will make significant changes tomorrow night.
"We'll go there and people will see how committed we are, as we always are as a management team, from the first ball to the last ball.
"By the same token, we've got four games in the space of 14 days now; Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday, and they're big games. The Exeter and Shaw Lane games are big games.
"I watch managers around this Checkatrade [Trophy] and they blag it that they're going to be at full strength and then make nine changes, and suchlike. We will make significant changes tomorrow night."
"We're going to give players an opportunity to step up and be in the team on Saturday. Go and be a real top performer against Notts County and you'll probably start against Exeter.
"We've got three or four that are desperate to play, that want to get in the starting line-up on a regular basis and they've got a fantastic platform at Notts County tomorrow night.
"It's more important to have a freshness about our team against Exeter than [getting] anything against Notts County."
Midfielder Joel Byrom, who has been missing with a foot injury since the 0-0 draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers last month, will participate in full training today and could be included in tomorrow's squad.
The manager said: "Joel will be in full training today, we hope, unless he's fallen off another kerb on the way down here!
"Joel's had three or four days with the medical department on the grass doing harder work than we would do at this stage of the season last week, and if he comes through a session today, maybe there'll be a place in the 18 for him.
"I don't sit here with a plan of playing Joel Byrom, but we'll see how he looks today. It might be an opportunity to get him just a few minutes as he works his way back to being in the team."
Centre-half David Mirfin, however, will be sidelined for tomorrow's match with a hamstring injury picked up in last week's draw with Barnet, however the gaffer hopes to have the former Scunthorpe United man available for Saturday's visit of the Grecians.
"David had a minute hamstring strain, so he'll certainly not be there tomorrow night. I expect him to be in front of his fire with his kids watching the television.
"We would think that David might have a chance for Exeter. If he's not right for Exeter, chances are we'll leave him beyond Shaw Lane, but hopefully he'll be out there against Exeter."
Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full news conference later today.
