YORK City player-boss Chris Brass says he is counting down the seconds to tomorrow's "huge" relegation battle against Macclesfield Town at Bootham Crescent.

Brass is delighted to be have some kind of playing control in his side's destiny again after completing a four-match suspension and is looking forward to City's fans generating a cracking atmosphere.

He said: "The players should not need firing up for this match. The importance of the game is there for everybody to see.

"One or two players might not have played in a game as big as this but, perhaps in a mad way, some might be enjoying it. Having missed the last four games, I'm certainly counting down the seconds until kick-off.

"I want to be out there leading by example because it's a huge match. There are still seven games left after it but if we get the right result it will certainly put us in a stronger position.

"We need to build on the hard work we have put in during training this week when everybody has had their say. As players, you find yourself in scenarios where you have to win games to go up or to stay up and, at this time of year, you sometimes get strange results when teams who have nothing to play for beat teams who need results.

"In this case, both teams are under pressure and it's a case of who wants it more. I believe that being at home is a huge advantage. We saw that at Bristol Rovers and I am sure how crowd will come and cheer us on.

"They don't want to see us fail but it's not just up to the crowd. We have to fire them up as well."

Brass is also hoping that fit-again duo Liam George and Christian Fox can still play a part in City's crucial run-in.

Both players have returned to training after long injury lay-offs and the Minstermen boss said: "They are looking sharp and, while realistically tomorrow's game will be too soon for both of them, there's still seven games to go so they are not going to be a million miles away and they will get a reserve game next week.

"We will need all hands to the pump especially with the Easter period coming up when we will find ourselves with three games in eight days."

Only Kevin Donovan and Stephen Downes are currently unavailable because of minor injuries.

City's match at Division Three leaders Doncaster Rovers on April 24 has been made an all-ticket affair.

The Belle Vue club have given City 1,100 tickets for the game and they are expected to be on sale after City's April 13 home clash with Bury.

Prices are £13 for adults and £7 for concessions in the seats and £10 and £5 on the terraces.

Match points:

The Silkmen, who have made five previous league visits, won on their first three trips to Bootham Crescent (1998/99 2-0, 1999/2000 2-0 and 2000/2001 3-1).

City have triumphed on the last two occasions.

In October 2001 Michael Proctor notched the only goal of the game and in the corresponding match last season, which was also staged on a Sunday, Jon Parkin and Lee Bullock were on target in a 2-1 success.

City lined up on February 2, 2003 - Ingham, Cooper, Smith, Brass, Jones, Cowan, Bullock, Potter, Nogan, Parkin, Shandran (Wood).

Players to have appeared for both clubs include Paul Johnson, Phil Wilson, Bobby Hoy, Kevin Hulme, Kieron Durkan and currently Jon Parkin, Graham Potter, Darren Dunning and Martin Carruthers.

Statistics by David Batters

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, April 03, 2004