AFTER playing the top two teams in Division Three in successive games, York City would have been forgiven for hoping for an easier challenge tomorrow.

Unfortunately for the Minstermen, their clash with Cheltenham Town promises to be their stiffest task of all.

The Robins' 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers in midweek stretched their unbeaten run to 14 games in the League, their last defeat coming back in November.

Their only reverse this year has come in the FA Cup, when they lost narrowly to First Division high-fliers West Brom 1-0.

To make matters worse for City, Cheltenham have lost only one home league game this season, and that was back in August.

Town's amazing run has seen them climb into the play-off frame, although Tuesday's win actually saw them drop a place to seventh in the table courtesy of goal difference.

The gloss from their midweek win over the Pirates was dulled with the news influential central midfielder Lee Howells suffered a broken leg at the Memorial Stadium.

With Howells out for the season, Town boss Steve Cotterill has moved to plug the gap by signing John Finnigan from Lincoln City.

The former Nottingham Forest junior, 25, will come in as a straight replacement for Howells tomorrow.

Former City and Rowntree Mackintosh striker Neil Grayson could also make a rare starting appearance.

Cheltenham's strikeforce of Julian Alsop and Tony Naylor have shared 37 goals between them this season - Alsop claiming his 21st of the campaign with the winner against the Pirates on Tuesday - meaning Grayson has had to settle for bench warming duties more often than not.

However, with a doubt over the fitness of Russell Milton (back), Grayson, now 37, could start on the left of midfield, a role he has filled on a few occasions this season including the 3-1 win over City at Bootham Crescent in December.

Cotterill also has doubts over central midfielder Mark Yates and right-sided midfielder Lee Williams. The duo both missed training on Thursday but are expected to be fit.

"It will be a very difficult game," said City manager Terry Dolan.

"Cheltenham are going very well at the moment. They are in a play-off position and have games in hand on other teams so they might even be thinking they can snatch one of the top three spots.

"It is going to be hard but we have had two decent performances against them in the last couple of seasons down there so let's hope we can make it three tomorrow."

Tomorrow's squads

York City (possible) from: Fettis, Hocking, Parkin, Basham, Hobson, Potter, Brass, Bullock, Nogan, Proctor, Mathie. Subs from: R Howarth, Richardson, Wood, O'Kane, Smith.

Cheltenham (probable): Book, Griffin, Banks, Duff, Victory, Williams, Yates, Finnigan, Milton, Alsop, Naylor. Subs from: Higgs, Brough, Grayson, Devaney, N Howarth, Walker, McAuley.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Kick-off: 3pm

Updated: 15:03 Friday, March 08, 2002