Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham: Stuart Pearce relishing Capital One Cup tie

Pearce takes his high-flying side to White Hart Lane for this third-round tie

Stuart Pearce returns to Nottingham Forest (Getty Images)

Stuart Pearce is looking forward to a taste of the Premier League when he takes his Nottingham Forest side to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham in the Capital One Cup.

Promotion is the aim for the Reds this season and they head to north London unbeaten and top of the Championship table.

The third-round tie will provide Pearce with some idea of how Forest measure up against top-flight opposition.

He told the club's official website: "It's an exciting game for us against a Premier League side. We have aspirations of reaching the Premier League ourselves and we're hopeful this will be a league fixture in the near future.

"It is a challenge for us to look forward to and the ability of the opposition is beginning to crank up now. It's an incredible test for us, that's for sure."

Forest fans will pay tribute to their former manager Brian Clough by wearing green round-necked jumpers in Wednesday's match.

All fans travelling on official club coaches to the fixture will be given replicas of Clough's famous fashion accessory to mark the 10th anniversary of his death on September 20, 2004.

The jumpers will be handed out by representatives of the Nottingham-based sponsors of the competition, Capital One.

Clough steered Forest to two European Cup triumphs, one league title and four League Cup successes during his spell as manager between 1975 and 1993.

Sheffield Wednesday travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on cup holders and Premier League champions Manchester City.

Owls boss Stuart Gray went to watch Manuel Pellegrini's men against Chelsea on Sunday and may have noted some areas where his side can get at City.

"It just shows the character they've got in the team to go down to 10 men and get a draw," said Gray.

"I think their strengths way outweigh their weaknesses. Hopefully, I spotted a few weaknesses that we can exploit."

Bolton face an equally daunting prospect when they travel to Chelsea, but defender Tim Ream is relishing Wanderers' return to the big stage.

The fixture rekindles some fond memories for the American, whose Premier League debut for the Whites came at Stamford Bridge shortly after his arrival in January 2012.

"It's a chance to pit yourself against one of the best teams in the world," Ream told the Bolton News.

"It is special for me because Chelsea was the second game I played in once I moved over. It brings semi-decent memories, as we lost 3-0."

Burton will be hoping to add Brighton to their list of cup scalps. The League Two side have already beaten Wigan and QPR in this season's competition.

PA