PLAYER-MANAGER Chris Brass is calling on his team to pay back the belief he has shown in them this season with a win tonight.

Relegation-stricken York City must realistically take all three points from tonight's match against Yeovil at Bootham Crescent to keep their hopes of League football next season alive.

And while Brass believes in the capabilities of his side, he says that now is the time for them to justify it.

He said: "It all comes down to your own belief. I believe in the players and I believe they can do it. I've protected them all season but now it's time for them to give something back.

"It's all about stopping the fear factor. We had 11 shots on target on Tuesday night against Bury and every time we went forward, we looked like we were going to score a goal.

"In contrast, on Saturday, nobody wanted to put themselves in that position where they might hit the bar, they might blast it over, or they might miss. But at the same time, there's a chance that you might hit one that goes in.

"It's a case of persevering and persevering and having the bottle to have a go."

He added: "The difference between Tuesday and Saturday was that the belief came back on Tuesday. Even when they got a goal, we believed we could do it and came back into it."

A core of self-belief will be all the more important tonight as the Minstermen take on a team desperate to reach the play-offs.

But Brass said that emphasis could work both ways.

"It puts the onus on them and it's the same scenario whether you're fighting for success or fighting for survival, there's that added pressure for both sides," he said. "They know they must win in order to get into the play-offs and at the same token we know we must win to give ourselves a fighting chance.

"It's one of those games and it's set up to be almost like a cup final. I think that's the way you have to approach it and whoever comes out on top will get the rewards. We've got to make sure that's ourselves.

"If we can get the three points then it puts three teams on the same points and it's a case of who can hold their nerve going into the three remaining games, and if you can suck any more into it and get 49 points, all the better. But you've got to do it sooner rather than later."

Brass is a serious injury doubt and is undergoing intensive treatment for a painful hip problem that led to him limping off on Saturday.

He said: "I'll make a decision at the last minute. If I feel like I can't get out there and do myself justice then there's certainly someone who will have to be willing and able to come in and do a job. I want to be fair to myself and fair to our chances but I certainly want to be out there but we'll have to assess that."

And the axe could also fall on some unnamed players who were below par on Saturday, with Brass admitting voluntary changes were a 'possibility', while Liam George was said to be much brighter after being rested for the last half hour on Saturday.

Updated: 11:23 Tuesday, April 20, 2004