TEENAGE midfielder Kane Ashcroft looks poised to start his first game of the season for York City against Carlisle United.

Ashcroft's only previous first-team start came in the final game of last season at Swansea but Darren Dunning's suspension means he could be given another chance.

The youth team midfielder was withdrawn as a precautionary measure during Wednesday night's 4-0 reserve home defeat while Lev Yalcin - his main rival for the midfield berth - was allowed to complete 90 minutes.

Caretaker boss Viv Busby said: "We took Kane off as he may play a part against Carlisle. I've not made a decision yet on who will replace Darren Dunning and I am waiting to see how the players come out of the reserve match first but maybe we will need two midfielders who can sit in there and frustrate teams and get our two banks of four out there."

Busby could also play former manager Chris Brass alongside Paul Groves in the middle of the park with Sean Davies switching to centre-half if Shaun Smith is fit enough to return at left-back.

City's acting manager said: "Shaun Smith has trained this week which is a bonus. He's not played for two-and-a-half weeks but it's good to have him back and he's had no recurrence of his calf problem."

If Busby decides to keep Brass in defence, Smith could return in place of Davies at full-back.

Goalkeeper David Stockdale is also expected to recover from a sore thigh that meant Chris Porter was also substituted on Wednesday night for the reserves.

Gary Pearson, Bryan Stewart, Paul Robinson, Matthew Coad and Steve Davis will still be missing, along with Dunning, but Busby believes his depleted side can compete with second-placed Carlisle.

He said: "If we played like we did against Woking it will give us a great chance of getting something out of the game. It will be a good occasion as they will bring 1,500 to 2,000 fans and they are on a good run.

"They have just beaten Bristol Rovers in the Cup and we know they are a good side but we are capable of getting a result."

Squads:

City v Carlisle United

Nationwide Conference

(at Bootham Crescent)

City (probable): Stockdale, Staley, Brass, Grant, Smith, Donovan, Ashcroft, Groves, Merris, Bishop, Nogan. Subs: Porter, Law, Yalcin, Davies, Arthur.

Carlisle United (possible): Glennon, Shelley, Andrews, Grand, Cowan, McGill, Lumsdon, Billy, Murphy, Hawley, Vieira. Subs from Preece, Henderson, Arnison, Roca, Westwood.

Referee: Stan Gate (Newcastle)

Kick-off: 3pm

Updated: 10:50 Friday, November 26, 2004