York City player-coach Lee Nogan looks poised for another watching brief tomorrow with Chris Brass extolling the virtues of having an added pair of eyes on the sidelines.

City welcome Bristol Rovers to Bootham Crescent and while Brass is keeping his selection plans under wraps he indicated Nogan will again be taking command from the bench rather than leading the attack.

The veteran striker had started every game until Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Darlington, when player-manager Brass wielded the axe.

The Welsh international did not even make the substitutes' bench but Brass suggested it was the need for a fresh perspective rather than a loss of form that saw Nogan taking charge from the dugout.

"We are fortunate to have Stan (Paul Stancliffe) there because he sees things, but it does make things easier when you have one of the two of us on the side and you can change things from there," said Brass.

"When I was suspended and on the sidelines you do see an awful lot more.

"It is something we discussed at the start of the season but because of the fitness and form of players we have both been starting of late.

"But the way the boys performed on Tuesday means Lee will have to earn his right to get his place back in the squad."

City will be forced into making at least one change for the visit of the Pirates.

Stuart Wise starts a three-match ban after being sent off against Rochdale earlier this month leaving a vacancy in the centre of defence.

Richard Hope, like Nogan not even named among the substitutes on Tuesday, could earn an instant recall.

If that happens, Leigh Wood could move to the right hand side of a three man defence or drop in at sweeper with Brass switching to the right.

However, Chris Smith could also make his first appearance of the season as a straight replacement for Wise.

As reported in the Evening Press yesterday, Smith, who underwent a hernia operation at the end of last season, has trained all week and is set to be included in tomorrow's squad.

So too is midfielder Christian Fox, who has been sidelined for six weeks with an ankle injury but has also trained all week.

Skipper Darren Edmondson (calf) and Jon Parkin (virus/thigh) are both ruled out.

Brass said he wanted City to continue with the improvement in form witnessed in Tuesday's stalemate with Darlington, a result that ended a three-match losing streak.

However, Brass admitted he was anxious City not only continue to play well but also pick up three points on home duty.

"We were a lot more positive on Tuesday in the way we played and we were just a bit disappointed that we didn't pick up all three points," he said.

"It would have been nice to get the win and it's important that having two home games in a row we pick up three points from at least one."

Match facts:

York City: (possible) Ovendale, Downes, Brass, Wood, Hope, Merris, Ward, Bullock, Dunning, George, Wilford. Subs, from: Porter, Cooper, Brackstone, Law, Stewart, Nogan

Bristol Rovers (possible): Miller, Boxall, Barrett, Edwards, Anderson, Carlisle, Hyde, Quinn, Hodges, Street, Agogo. Subs, from: Clarke, Austin, Parker, Bryant, Arndale

Referee: Trevor Parkes (West Midlands)

Kick off: 3pm

- The Pirates have a good record at Bootham Crescent and in 18 previous League trips have won seven times and drawn four.

- City's biggest win over Rovers was 4-0 in 1985/86 and heaviest defeats 5-1 in 1965/66 and 4-0 in 1987/88.

- Last season the teams drew 2-2 at York when Peter Duffield (penalty) and Stephen Brackstone were on target. The line-up on October 19 2002 was: Fettis, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Potteer, Brackstone, Bullock (Mazzina), Wood (Nogan), Cook, Duffield, Parkin (Yalcin).

- Players to have represented both sides include pre-Second World War stars Maurice Dando and Ted Hathway. Others are Peter Aitken, Scott Jones and the managerial link is John Ward.

Updated: 11:15 Friday, September 19, 2003