Burton are the first League One side to reach this stage of the League Cup since Sheffield United in 2014-15 - the Blades were then managed by current Brewers boss Nigel Clough.

Image source, Getty Images

Burton manager Nigel Clough: "It's always difficult to name a team for a game like this but it picks itself in some ways. Lucas Akins is in a different position again - he can play anywhere.

"We have to dream and we want to play a bit if we can. Be as confident as you can."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Sky Sports: "Almost everybody is fit so I make a selection to give players minutes who need them.

"Kevin de Bruyne starts for a second game in a row which is important. He got 70 good minutes in the last game."

Just to clarify - there will be NO DELAY to tonight's game. Kick-off as planned at 19:45 GMT.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

It's not just Manchester City who have some big stars on the bench tonight... Burton can call upon former child actor Will Miller, who played Oliver Twist in the BBC adaption of the Charles Dickens novel when he was 11.

Miller, now 22, was also the star of CBBC show 'Runaway', which I never saw because I stopped watching CBBC in about 1994. His mum, Janine Wood, is an actress who has appeared in The Bill and The Inbetweeners, where she played Tara’s mum.

He came through Tottenham's academy before joining Burton in 2017 and told The Guardian in an interview, external later that year that he wants to be known as a footballer, not as as Oliver Twist.

Tonight is his big audition… sorry, I mean chance - if he gets off the bench.

Michael: The traffic won’t dampen our spirits, just getting our first glimpse of the Etihad, we think, it could be more blue flashing lights, seen a few of them on this journey

Well done Manchester City. Well done indeed.

Edward Taylor: Emily is my sister! [see 19:16] Thanks to her sending me images of my ticket and the amazing stewards and ticket office staff @ManCity, external I have managed to get in. Just hoping my sister and the hundreds of other fans can make it now.

Stand by for a bit of good news!

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

Burton chairman Ben Robinson on 5 live: "Nigel Clough is the reason why we are here tonight and the reason we have been on this journey. He was our manager when we won our first league title and then won promotion to the Football League.

"We are now at a stadium which cost £7.4m to build and I’m sure that would not have happened had Nigel joined us when he did. We are so delighted he chose to start his managerial career at Burton Albion when he left Man City."

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live reporter at Etihad Stadium

Image source, .

Burton Albion were in the Manchester area just a few days ago for their League One game at Rochdale. They won that one 4-0. I think it is fair to say Nigel Clough and his team expect a very different test tonight.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson said: "It is a remarkable achievement for the team to get through to the semi final of any competition and on the way, beating five good teams. Tonight is about damage limitation, we saw what Man City achieved against Championship Rotherham in the FA Cup on Sunday. The players are here to go out and enjoy it and achieve their best.

"I’m sure City have four big objectives on their agenda, and tonight I'm sure they will hope to score enough goals tonight to make the tie a formality. But our lads will be committed and the football Nigel Clough has achieved with this team is some of the best we have played for years.

"Getting a draw against Manchester United as a conference side in the FA Cup was a fantastic achievement. But tonight is without question the biggest game in our history and the road to this game was much tougher than that United game. So we are going to enjoy it and we look forward to welcoming Manchester City back to the Pirelli Stadium."

Image source, PA

Burton have eliminated a team from a higher division in four previous rounds of this season's League Cup, with only three teams ever eliminating five in one campaign - Swindon Town in 1968-69, Chester City in 1974-75 and Bradford City in 2012-13.

Dion Dublin
Ex-Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 live

It's not going to be a walk in the park for City, they have to come here and respect the opposition. I have been the underdog many times and it is a free shot for Burton.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

... but they are currently warming up in front of an almost empty away end at the Etihad Stadium.

I make it about 100 Burton fans are in their seats (at a very rough count) so I'm going to stop trying to speak to them all individually now.

The rest of the stadium is not exactly packed out yet either to be honest... but City's players have made it here too.

So we will get a game - I am just not sure how many Burton fans will be here to watch it.

Edward Taylor: Driven all the way from Glasgow and at the ground. My ticket is stuck on the M6 along with my sister who is driving up from London.

Sister called Emily by any chance?! [See 18:53 GMT]

Image source, PA

This will be the third time Nigel Clough has managed in a League Cup semi-final, taking charge of Derby's second leg - a 2-4 defeat - against Man Utd in 2008-09 and leading Sheffield United to that stage in the 2014-15 campaign, when they lost to Spurs.

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Burton were a Southern League Premier Division side when manager Nigel Clough played in Nottingham Forest's 1989 League Cup triumph, a measure of the progress made in the past 30 years.

From level seven in the football pyramid to the heights of the Championship before relegation last season, the Brewers have taken in Wembley finals, FA Cup ties at Manchester United and promotion on the way.

Trips to Merthyr, Gosport Borough and Wealdstone have been replaced by games against Sunderland, Coventry and Charlton - but even Wednesday's game feels like a 'pinch yourself' moment.

"We're looking forward to enjoying the experience [at Manchester City]," Clough added. "No-one gives us a chance but there are supporters who have been following us for 50-60 years who would never have dreamed we'd be in a League Cup semi-final.

"Let's hope everybody goes along to enjoy it. Every game you have a chance, it's what degree that is. Ours is extremely slim."

Read more from Matt here

If you're stuck in traffic give us an update - where abouts are you? How bad has this journey been?

It's a much longer road to Wembley for the League One side...

First round: Beat Shewsbury 2-1

Second round: Beat Aston Villa 1-0

Third round: Beat Burnley 2-1

Fourth round: Beat Nottingham Forest 3-2

Quarter-final: Beat Middlesbrough 1-0

Image source, Getty Images