Everton are taking part in the prestigious VTB Lev Yashin Cup in Moscow.
The Blues have accepted an invitation to send an under-21 side to Russia to participate in the four-team tournament alongside Germans SC Freiburg, top Serbian outfit OFK Beograd and host club Dynamo Moscow.
The likes of Jose Baxter, Apostolos Vellios and Joao Silva are all travelling and Stubbs says the fact they are taking on top foreign opposition adds a real edge to what is essentially pre-season action for the Blues.
"The football should be tough," the reserve team boss told evertonfc.com. "It is worth remembering it will be our first competitive action of pre-season and we are up against players who are well into their seasons so, from a fitness point of view, we are going to be up against it.
"We are obviously there to improve our fitness, but that is not all it is. The result isn't everything but we are there to represent the club and we don't want to just make up the numbers.
"If it was in this country against domestic opposition then it probably would just be about the fitness, but we are representing Everton and the lads will be told that.
"We'll go there and enjoy it, there will be an edge to the football because of who we are playing and hopefully with it being a week into pre-season the lads will be desperate to get the ball out and play some games."
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