GERMAN striker Sinisa Savic will play as a trialist for York City at Guiseley tonight (7.30pm).

Savic, 23, signed a three-year deal with Barnsley, then in the First Division, in 2000 but failed to make an appearance for the Oakwell club after suffering from glandular fever.

Dave Bassett brought the 5ft 8in forward to South Yorkshire but his only appearances in English football came during a brief two-match spell at Scarborough in October 2000.

Savic will join a strong City squad at the UniBond League side for tonight's friendly although Chris Brass, Steve Davis, Gary Pearson, Kevin Donovan and Shaun Smith will all rest minor injuries.

New striker Andy Bishop will also be missing because he is having treatment on a wisdom tooth and winger Bryan Stewart will not travel as he recovers fitness after a stomach bug.

But all the players, bar Pearson, are expected to be back for Friday night's friendly at Melbourne. Pearson should be fit to face Leeds on Tuesday.

Trialist strikers Paul Brayson and Jonny Rowan and goalkeeper Paul Crichton will also play tonight with Brass set to make a decision on their Bootham Crescent futures this week.

City squad: Paul Crichton, Chris Porter, Graeme Law, Chris Clarke, Paul Groves, Sean Davies, Paul Brayson, Darren Dunning, Matthew Coad, Dave Merris, Sinisa Savic, Lev Yalcin, Paul Robinson, Lee Nogan, Jonny Rowan, Adam Arthur, Kane Ashcroft.

Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, July 28, 2004