DAVE Merris will be hoping for more happy memories at Brunton Park tomorrow as he returns to the venue of his winning debut last year.

York City are facing a mammoth FA Cup fourth round qualifying challenge for a place in the first round proper.

And left-back Merris is one who knows better than most what is required after making it through the final qualifying hurdle two years ago with Harrogate Town.

He said: "Carlisle is one of the most memorable places I have played because it was the first game of the season and we won, so touch wood it will still be a good place.

"The team has changed a lot since then but I think it's all been positive. With those that have come in we have got some experienced pros that have played a lot of football at different places and we have also got some good youngsters as well."

One of the big changes is the emergence of left winger Bryan Stewart.

"I know that if I give him the ball he will take someone on, get down the wing and get a good cross in and it means that I can just worry about backing him up and defending."

Having just turned 24, Merris is the kind of player that would not normally stand out as a veteran. But in the current injury-fuelled climate, he has become one of the handful of seniors on the pitch.

"It was good to break into the team last year," he said. "I had my ups and downs but you have got to expect that because it's part and parcel of that situation.

"It sounds stupid but even though I'm only that little bit older than the younger ones I still have that extra year. I can give them advice and they take it on board because they know I have been there myself not so long ago."

As for tomorrow's task, he said: "Carlisle aren't one of the best draws we could have had but we have still got to beat them. We beat them twice last yea,r home and away, and the form we are in at the moment - even though we haven't been getting the results - is a positive one.

"We know what we are capable of and what we can do on our day."

He added: "We had a good run at Harrogate and got into the first round and hopefully we can do it again this year. If we can get a little bit of a run together in the cup then hopefully that will give us what we need to take it into the league as well."

Updated: 09:39 Friday, October 29, 2004