Both Leeds United and Sunderland were defeated in their opening Premier League Cup fixtures this season.
The Whites lost 2-1 to a Wigan Athletic outfit, while Sunderland were on the receiving end of a 3-0 beating by Mansfield Town.
The competition - which has not run to completion since 2018/19 due to the coronavirus pandemic - pits under-23 sides against one and other, unlike the EFL Trophy which sees senior teams in League One and Two play U21 sides.
This is the third front on which the young Whites are competing this season, along with the aforementioned EFL Trophy and Premier League 2. With the need for young players to bulk out Marcelo Bielsa's first-team squad on matchdays, many youngsters from the under-18 group have already taken to the field under Development Squad head coach Mark Jackson.
That appears to be the case this afternoon, as Leeds name a youthful-looking XI at the Stadium of Light, largely due to the international break.
Goalkeepers Dani van den Heuvel and Kristoffer Klaesson have both been on international duty with their respective nations, handing Harry Christy a start between the posts.
Cody Drameh, Lewis Bate and Sam Greenwood have all been involved with England's U20 group in the past week, while Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Cresswell both miss out due to England U21 commitments.
Similarly, new signing Leo Hjelde is not part of today's squad, having appeared for Norway U19 yesterday.
Pascal Struijk captains the team this afternoon, while Crysencio Summerville and Sean McGurk continue in the side following impressive run-outs of late.
16-year-old James Debayo has also earned a start from coach Mark Jackson.
Leeds United XI: Christy (GK), Sutcliffe, Ferguson, Struijk (c), Moore, Debayo, Summerville, Snowdon, Dean, McGurk, Miller
Subs: Ombang, McKinstry, Gray, Kenneh, Spencer
