FIT-AGAIN Darren Edmondson believes York City have the strike-force to tame the Stags and fire the Minstermen up the table.

The 30-year-old defender has been out for two weeks with a groin problem but is ready to face Mansfield tonight, when City will be looking to put behind them a shocking display against Swansea on Tuesday.

And although he will be coming up against two of the hottest strikers in Division Three in Chris Greenacre and Matthew Piper, he reckons City's own dynamic duo of Lee Nogan and Michael Proctor are more than a match for anyone.

"They've got good forwards and we have obviously got to stop them but we've got to concentrate on ourselves as well," he told the Evening Press.

"We've got decent players who they will be worried about as much as us about them. We've got as good a strike-force as anyone in this league and we've got to play to our strengths.

"That does not mean lump the ball forward to our strikers as quickly as possible, but to play to their strengths. Our two strikers aren't going to win all the headers but if we knock it into their feet and down the side of defenders they can use their pace and ability to cause problems."

Edmondson is raring to get back into action having missed Saturday's FA Cup stalemate at Colchester and the defeat to Swansea.

"I think I could have played on Tuesday but we had to make sure my groin was going to be right so it was decided I'd better not start that match," he said. "It's improved since the week's gone on."

The former Carlisle and Huddersfield right-back missed City's trip to Field Mill last season, where they came away with an impressive 3-1 win. A repeat result would not go amiss.

"Mansfield are playing very well and will be full of confidence but from a personal point of view we've got to lift our own confidence through helping each other and working for each other," he said.

"They have a decent, young side. Their work-rate will be high so we've got to match that and concentrate after that on our game and see what comes.

"We've got to stop them playing and get into our own game quickly."

Team-mate Nick Richardson has echoed the belief the Minstermen have to find more consistency, having seen a poor loss to the Swans follow a fine display at Colchester.

"Ultimately after games you have got to focus on the next match and right now that's Mansfield," said the midfielder.

"But if there's one thing we've got to get it's consistency. We've come up with good results in the past so there's no reason why we can't do it again tonight."

Updated: 11:11 Friday, November 23, 2001