THE apprentice faces the master this week as Gareth Ainsworth pits his wits against his former manager in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

Blues have been handed a trip to Championship side Millwall, now managed by Ainsworth's old QPR boss Ian Holloway.

Ainsworth was Holloway's former captain as they guided the R's to promotion from League One, before the current Blues boss was placed in caretaker charge at Loftus Road when the Bristolian was placed on gardening leave.

Ainsworth said: "Ian's a fantastic manager. He's changed over the years to become a really good tactician.

"I played with his assistant Marc Bircham at QPR so there's big connections. It's the first time I've been up against him as a manager and I'm really looking forward to that one."

The Blues boss can expect a rough ride from the crowd at the New Den on Tuesday night after he fractured the cheekbone of Lions defender Tony Craig on his Wanderers debut, before being sent off when the sides met again later in the season.

He said: "It's going to be a tough one away at Millwall. I don't think any team going to Millwall ever expects anything but a tough game.

"We'd love a nice little cup run. We were close last year but hopefully we can go one better this year."