TEENAGE striker Adam Arthur is likely to make York City's bench at Doncaster on Saturday as Chris Brass turns to players with the club at heart.

Arthur has impressed in recent reserve games and is set to be called up to the first-team squad for the crucial trip to Belle Vue.

Fellow teenagers Sean Davies, Matthew Coad and Graeme Law could also come into contention for a game that could, depending on other results, see Doncaster crowned champions and City relegated to the Nationwide Conference if the home team wins.

Richard Hope begins a two-match ban at Doncaster while player-coach Lee Nogan has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone.

Midfielder Christian Fox has also picked up a new ankle injury, while Lev Yalcin, Kevin Donovan and Jonjo Dickman remain unfit.

Mitch Ward is also unlikely to be involved after failing to make the bench against Yeovil in midweek so Brass will turn to players who are likely to determine the club's future fortunes as replacements.

The Minstermen boss said: "We will have to break one or two in and some of the youngsters who continue to do well will be involved. They are fully aware of what's happening at the club and they want York City to succeed, which is the type of player you want about in these times.

"Adam Arthur, who has been on the fringe and done well in the reserves, will possibly get an opportunity on the bench."

City will go into the match against title-chasing Doncaster four points from safety with just three games to go.

Doncaster have lost just two league games at home all season but Brass is hoping his side can pull off the kind of great escape that made Jimmy Glass and David Pleat household names.

He said: "Spirit is OK. The players want to keep going and have not given hope.

"We have got to hope we write one of those stories that people like to read about. Football has a funny way of chucking things up and we will have to hope Saturday is one of those games.

"People will be expecting Doncaster to roll us over and we have got to prove them wrong. We have got to make sure we keep them out early on.

"Occasions like these can turn into a party atmosphere and they could get their tails up."

Brass is also aware that anything less than a victory tomorrow will mean the club set a new record of 18 league matches without a win.

He said: "I am aware of the record and it is a matter of pride. We started the season by matching the best-ever start with four wins and we are at the same stage with this record but I am hoping it stays matched."

Nogan and Hope's absence could mean Brass switches to a 4-4-2 formation, which will also be employed by the home team, with Richard Cooper and David Merris likely to get starting places and Darren Dunning returning to midfield, where Brass could continue if he recovers in time from his hip injury.

The City boss said: "I have been glad to make quite an impact in midfield where Richard Cooper also did well on Tuesday so he's another option. Lee (Nogan) will be the missing link because we have not really got a replacement for him. We might have to tinker with one or two things."

Brass paid tribute to his nine-goal assistant's contribution on the field now that his season is over, saying: "He's done well during the course of the season and has stepped forward and put himself through the mill to get results. He will have to scream and shout from the sidelines if he can at Doncaster.

"The ironic thing is he had a slight injury anyway and was going to go off just before he got the smack in his face."

Tomorrow's game could also be the last of striker Jon Newby's loan spell with the Minstermen with Brass adding: "Huddersfield have stated that they want him back but that could change over the weekend if they get promotion."

Updated: 11:00 Friday, April 23, 2004