YORK City boss Billy McEwan looks likely to give his fringe players the chance to prove their worth against Dagenham and Redbridge tomorrow (3pm).

With safety secured despite Tuesday night's 6-0 capitulation at Carlisle, McEwan has expressed an intention to field players that he has not been able to run the rule over since taking over the managerial reins at KitKat Crescent.

That could mean as many as five changes from the side that fared so badly at Brunton Park with David Stockdale, Sean Davies, Bryan Stewart, Michael Staley and Paul Robinson all coming into contention.

Stockdale is yet to taste first-team action under McEwan having lost his goalkeeping place to Chris Porter after the 5-1 Boxing Day defeat at Scarborough.

Striker Robinson and right-back Staley have only appeared briefly as substitutes since the new manager's arrival while Stewart has featured as a replacement in the last two matches having returned from a spell on the sidelines because of illness, injury and family bereavement.

Defender Davies started in two of McEwan's first three matches but has not figured since and, like Stockdale, Stewart and Robinson, faces an anxious wait to see whether he will be given a new contract at KitKat Crescent when his current deal expires this summer.

McEwan has been unavailable for comment since Tuesday night's 6-0 debacle and cancelled yesterday's press conference as he concentrated on focussing the players' minds for tomorrow's match.

The City boss will also wait to see if 11-goal top scorer Andy Bishop is able to play despite the minor knee problem that requires surgery at the end of the season.

City's juniors make the short trip to Hull for a Merit Division Two North fixture (11am).

Updated: 10:03 Friday, April 15, 2005