The Lugnuts, the Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, boast six everyday players who are 19 or younger and the team has an average age of about 21. So as Kevin Ahrens, Lansing’s 18-year-old third baseman, steps up against a college player who is older than him, he’ll just try to look at it like any other game.

“It doesn’t really phase me because I turn 19 in a few days and I’m always playing against older guys,” he said. “We’ve got a young team out there and we’re just going to have to play our game against those older guys.”

The Lugnuts and Spartans (14-21 overall, 4-11 Big Ten) will meet for the annual Crosstown Showdown at 6:05 p.m. Thursday at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing.

“Our guys kind of get fired-up with it just because there’s going to be a lot of people out at the ballpark and the weather looks like it’s going to be an awesome night,” MSU head coach David Grewe said.

“We get fired-up for it; it’s not the most important game of the year — our conference games now turn into the most important — but ultimately it’s going to be a fun experience for the guys and I get to play everybody.”

Last season, the Lugnuts defeated MSU 4-3 in front of more than 6,000 fans and both teams are expecting that same crowd, if not more. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network and will be part of the Labatt Blue Light Thirsty Thursday promotion at the ballpark.

Grewe said he has already mapped out his lineup for every inning, hoping to give all his players an opportunity. Lugnuts shortstop Justin Jackson is looking forward to the same aspects of the game as the Spartans, while still trying to keep his team on track.

“It’s a great thing for the community and the city of Lansing,” he said. “We’ll look at it as fun but we’re locked in right now so we want to continue to play good baseball.”

While the Lugnuts field some of the brightest young talent in the Blue Jays organization who are still unable to get into bars, the Spartans’ youthful experience may prove valuable.

“It’s kind of strange how our roster is set up this year with the amount of young guys we have, and talking with Dave over there, they’ve got a young group as well, so it’ll be fun for both sides,” Lugnuts manager Clayton McCullough said. “Our guys will enjoy it and I’m sure they will too.”