GETTING in the right frame of mind is crucial for York City in Saturday's Nationwide Conference clash with basement dwellers Leigh RMI.

Both teams are under pressure to get three points and City caretaker manager Viv Busby will be praying his side goes prepared for a tough fight with complacency out and consistency in.

He said: "We have worked hard in the last couple of games and we know that consistency is a major factor in how we perform.

"We need to go there with a positive attitude. We are good enough to go there and win the game so we just need to believe it and do what we are capable of."

York City's up-and-down season has been epitomised by a string of seemingly inexplicably bad results against the worst sides in the Conference alongside wins and draws with teams in the top eight.

"This is something we have been talking about recently," said Busby. "We know what they can do and if they can do it against the top teams then they should be able to do it against the lower teams.

"It's a mental thing obviously. But on Saturday they all know how important the game is so they shouldn't need to be told."

Every single one of City's seven league wins this season have come against teams from 16th or higher in the table at the time of playing, with two of those against top eight teams.

But in five matches against sides from the bottom four, only two points were gathered, pointing to a stark contrast in mental approach to games.

In November, City lost to 21st Forest Green and repeated that in December with a defeat at the hands of Northwich Victoria. But sandwiched in between those two results are a win against second-placed Carlisle United and a draw at third-placed Halifax Town.

And more recently a win against Crawley and a draw at Stevenage Borough - both in the top eight -- were split by a loss against 19th-placed Burton Albion.

The scalp factor of beating an ex-League side is also coming into play with everyone raising their games when York City are in the other dressing-room.

Said Busby: "Teams have been doing that all season against us. To combat it, we need to go out, set our stall out, defend well and hopefully be positive on the ball.

"If we work hard and compete with their work-rate, then hopefully we can grind out a win."

The squad looks set to be the same 16 that were beaten in extra time at Accrington Stanley in the Gladwish Land Sales Cup on Tuesday night.

Said Busby: "We need to go and play like we did the other night so we need them to be honest with me and tell me if they are not up to it.

"But if they all say they are good to go, then I would like to play the same team again."

Updated: 10:59 Friday, January 28, 2005