We shall pass - that's the edict issued by York City boss Terry Dolan ahead of tonight's North Riding Senior Cup final against Premiership Middlesbrough.

Reeling from the first-day fall to Nationwide newcomers Rushden and Diamonds City must now pit their wits against top-flight opposition. And Dolan is determined that City will cherish the ball rather than perish with the ball in the Bootham Crescent battle for silverware, kick-off 7.45pm.

Despite the opposition being hewn from Premiership pedigree the Minstermen will be encouraged to express themselves far more convincingly than 72 hours ago.

It was a lack of conviction in their ability to maintain possession against their Diamond-studded Rushden opponents that so irked the City boss .

"I was more disappointed with the way we distributed the ball, especially from defence," he said.

"It was poor from all over the pitch, but it's from defence where it stems and we have got to work on that."

Dolan's dissatisfaction with the askew approach play ensures tonight's home line-up will be a strong one.

Barring a quartet of injured men, all of City's senior squad are on call for the clash against Boro, who, in five days' time, open their Premiership campaign at home to mega-spending Arsenal.

"People like Gary Hobson and Mike Basham need games after missing parts of the pre-season," said Dolan. "It was always the intention to play a strong team."

One of the two major changes from the season's sorry opener will be a first start of term for England Under-18 goalkeeper Russ Howarth, and a front-line patrol for predator Peter Duffield, who had to be content with springing from the bench, though to no avail, against Rushden.

"Peter will probably play with Michael Proctor, whose game against Rushden was his first 90 minutes for a while. They both need games under their belts."

City will also give a run-out to their first 'capture' of the season. Irish midfielder Aidan O'Kane has now signed full-time terms with the Minstermen after impressing in several pre-season outings.

"He's not one to be chucked in right from the start - he is definitely one for the future," said Dolan. "But he will have some part to play against Middlesbrough."

City are also confident of better news from the treatment room. Christian Fox is to see a specialist tomorrow who is then expected to rubber-stamp a return to full-time training for the midfield prospect, who underwent major knee surgery in the close season.

Striker Alex Mathie is also likely to step up his training regime, but defender Neville Stamp has now gone down with a groin strain, while fears that Marc Thompson faces a lengthy absence have now been confirmed.

York-born Thompson will miss the next six weeks after 'X'-rays revealed a fractured ankle after he was injured in a challenge during last week's friendly at Ilkeston Town.

Definitely out of the Middlesbrough squad is ex-City star Jonathan Greening. The striker, who moved from Manchester United to Teesside for £2million last week - benefiting his first club to the tune of £287,500 - will be otherwise engaged on England Under-21 duty tonight against Holland at Reading.

Boro's record £6.5million signing Gareth Southgate, and his former Aston Villa cohort Ugo Ehiogu, who went north last season for £4m, are both with the full England squad to play their Dutch counterparts tomorrow.

Alen Boksic has linked up with Croatia for their game against the Republic of Ireland tomorrow.

But several of Boro's other premier stars are poised for a run-out under the Crescent lights as they hone their preparations under the stewardship of York-born manager Steve McClaren.

Steve Vickers linked with a move to Crystal Palace and Phil Stamp, who is poised to join Millwall ina £800,000 deal, are included in a 17-man squad, as are Australian skipper Paul Okon, Jason Gavin, Dean Gordon, Robbie Mustoe, Dean Windass and Brian Deane.

York City from Howarth, Hocking, Basham, Hobson, Edmondson, Bullock, Brass, Richardson, Potter, Proctor, Duffield, Fettis, Fielding, Emmerson, Wood, Nogan, O'Kane.

Middlesbrough: Beresford, Bennion, Stockdale, Vickers, Stamp, Gavin, Gordon, Okon, Windass, Mustoe, Deane, Hudson, Wilkshire, Summerbell, Parnaby, Close, Downing.

Referee: Rich Hewitt (Scarborough).

Updated: 09:17 Tuesday, August 14, 2001