Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll will not rush the club's promising youngsters into the side for their final two matches of the season.
The Robins, who will play League One football next season, have handed the likes of Wes Burns and Toby Ajala game time as substitutes in their recent matches.
But the former Doncaster boss, who will have Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid back from their loan spells at Plymouth and Oldham for the final match of the season, says the environment has to be right to blood the first-team players of the future.
"Only if I think it's the right environment and I think they can do well," O'Driscoll told Bristol City Player.
"We're in a place where our performances still matter, and I don't want to be throwing in youngsters that will struggle if the team struggles.
"It's an opportunity for the senior pros to maintain their level of performances until the end, but injuries will dictate, so Wes and Toby will still be involved.
"We've got the option to recall Joe from Plymouth and Bobby from Oldham, but they're getting valuable experience from those respective clubs at the minute, so I'll only do that if I've got to put them straight in the team."
