Socceroo Cahill will make his debut for Mebourne City in the round of 16 clash tonight, throwing City's Queensland National Premier League rivals into the media spotlight.

And teenager Marshall is the centre of attention after the 18-year old defender was tasked with marking the Socceroos' all-time record goalscorer. 

The high school student’s performances for the Strikers helped take the club to the top of the QLD NPL ladder – and put the teenager on the radar of A-League clubs, long before tonight's blockbuster clash.

“I’ve heard that they’re keeping an eye on my progress from the start of the year to now and later on,” he said.

“You always look forward as a football player and you want to make that next level to see where you can go.”

The Strikers' 6-0 away win to Darwin Rovers in the round of 32 paved the way for tonight’s dream home tie and Marshall says being involved in the FFA Cup carries a different feeling.

“There was definitely more hype and more of a vibe before the game,” he said. “It’s a good competition to have in Australia.

"It boosts football and competing with the A-League teams gives opportunities for the NPL teams to compete, to put their name out there. And it also provides pathways for the younger boys to make that next step.

“The game against Darwin was a massive step from NPL games because there were so many people watching it, not only at the game but online as well. It’s been good."

Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin Aherne-Evans paid tribute to the young defender’s partner at the back and says his young charger would flourish in Australia’s top flight.

“Jake Marshall has been outstanding one of the best defenders in the competition,” he said. “Between him and Greg Hensley in the central defender partnership, they are up to 14 clean sheets.

“His ability to defend the box in critical areas – obviously it’s a key area of a centreback’s artillery and he has everything you’d want in a central defender. He’s big and strong, consistent, vocal and has a real presence on and off the field. He’s going to be real leader of men."

Aherne-Evans added: “Any opportunity to get into an A-League environment I’m sure he’d excel and go onto the next level in no time.

"Obviously he’d need to get up to speed, because there is obviously a fair bit of work that has to go into somebody to get them right for A-League level and week in and week football, with that extra training load on the body.

“However, I don’t think it would take Jake long to adapt to the new environment and kick on again from there.”

Picture courtesy of Football Queensland