LEE Nogan and Alex Mathie were gearing up to lead the York City line for tonight's trip to Division Three leaders Plymouth Argyle.

With Peter Duffield out for the rest of the season and Michael Proctor serving a one-match suspension, Dolan will turn to the experienced duo of Nogan and Mathie - with the former Newcastle man a one-time signing of the Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock.

Mathie, 33, switched from life at the Tractor Boys of Ipswich to head back 'home' to sign for Dundee United in 1998 for a six-figure sum.

And former Welsh international Nogan is looking forward to linking up with his Scottish team-mate.

"Alex and myself have played in training, so we shall just see how it goes," said the much-travelled hit-man.

"We are both experienced players so there should be no problems there. We've played three up front for a few games now and that has worked well, but this is a different option.

"Alex is a different sort of player to Michael, he holds the ball up well and has that experience, that know how.

"Michael is a young lad and still learning, whereas Alex has played at the highest level and he gives you that option.

"Obviously he is not going to go do what Michael does and take people on, that's not his game and it's not my game really.

"If we link well together, hold the ball up well, bring other people into the game and get into the box then hopefully the chances will come our way.

"Hopefully tonight will be our first 90 minutes together and we can come away with at least a point. If we can get a goal each I'd be over the moon."

Nogan, with nine strikes to his tally this season, believes the Minstermen's performance against Luton Town - Plymouth's closest title challengers - will give City the platform on which to build.

"Plymouth are going really well at the moment, they've had a great season, but we've got to go there and do exactly what we did for the first half at Luton and get among them," said the 32-year-old.

"They are at home and are flying, but we've just come off quite a good run ourselves, so we will go there with confidence and you never know what will happen.

"We should have got something from Luton in both games we played them, and if we do the same again, especially the first half, we should have no problems."

With his striking options limited, City boss Terry Dolan could be forced to switched from his effective 3-4-3 formation, to a slightly more defensive 3-5-2.

Darren Edmondson is unavailable with a calf injury, leaving the Matt Hocking, Stuart Wise and Chris Smith all in contention to replace him.

Nick Richardson or Leigh Wood could also start should Dolan opt to pack his midfield for the trip to Home Park.

Updated: 08:45 Tuesday, March 05, 2002