SKIPPER Chris Smith is relishing the possibility of playing against England international Kevin Davies during York City’s FA Cup clash at Bolton Wanderers today.

It is not certain yet whether Trotters boss Owen Coyle will rest Davies for the third round tie, but Smith would look forward to the challenge if he takes to the field.

City’s captain cannot wait either to tackle top-flight opposition for the first time in his career, having been an unused substitute when York entertained Fulham in 2002 during his first spell at Bootham Crescent.

The former Worcester City and Stafford centre-back said: “Kevin Davies has just got his first England cap and he’s been banging in Premiership goals for years. He bullies the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, who are top international players, so he might enjoy coming up against me but I will give it my all, enjoy the experience and see what I can do against him.

“I was gutted when I was left on the bench against Fulham all those years ago because they had players like Louis Saha, Edwin van der Sar and Steed Malbranque, who were top players and still are.

“I never thought another opportunity would come along and, for any player, it’s a dream to play a Premier League team away.”

City are yet to concede a goal during four games in this season’s competition and, while Smith, pictured left, admitted that record would face its sternest test this afternoon, he shares the view of manager Gary Mills that the visitors can come away from Lancashire with a victory, saying: “We’ve kept quite a few clean sheets but, with no disrespect intended, that’s at Conference level.

“We will be playing a team who can score goals from anywhere and, if we get a result, it will be down to all 11 players not just the defence.

“They might let us play football as we like to do because you get more time on the ball in the Premier League.

“We might also surprise them because we know more about them than they do about us.

“You can watch these players on the television every week but we’ve only had two or three games since the draw was made and we go there believing we can win.”

With just under 5,000 City supporters having bought tickets for this afternoon’s game, Smith also added that there is a determination in the camp not to let them down.

He said: “The fans have been brilliant since I came back here, especially in the Cup at Rotherham and Darlington and to take that many to Bolton is fantastic.

“They come out in their numbers and it sounds as if there’s even more of them with the noise they make. I hope they have a good day but they won’t if we get beaten, so we are out to get a result for them as much as for themselves.”