Blackpool welcome York City to a ramshackle Bloomfield Road tomorrow searching for a hat-trick of wins to underline their play-off credentials.

Since their impressive 2-0 win over the Minstermen just before Christmas, the Seasiders slumped to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Halifax and a 3-1 defeat at Lincoln in the LDV Vans Trophy.

However, Steve McMahon's side have bounced back with a 5-0 hammering of Torquay and a 1-0 win at Hull City to generate renewed optimism on the West coast and keep their promotion hopes alive.

The only blot on the feel-good factor currently emanating from Bloomfield Road is the continued postponement of improvements to the much-maligned stadium.

Two sides of the ground were flattened in the summer but six months later and a brick has still to be put in place.

The state of the ground took on extra significance when McMahon announced he would not sign a new contract until the work started.

After months of red-tape wrangling, Blackpool believe the rebuilding programme will start soon to lift the one dark cloud hanging over the club.

Ground director Paul Whitehead was this week in talks with council chiefs and builders and is confident work to redevelop the North and West stands will start next month.

Steve Bushell, who as reported is on the transfer-list after refusing a new deal, is expected to miss tomorrow's match.

After recovering from a hamstring injury former City ace Bushell then picked up a thigh strain.

He is now back in training but is thought to be still short of match fitness to be considered for tomorrow's game against his former club.

Midfielder John Hills, who set up Blackpool's second goal at Bootham Crescent in December but too is now on the transfer-list after rejecting fresh terms, is also out with a hamstring strain.

York City (probable): Alan Fettis, Barry Jones, Mark Sertori, Colin Alcide, Neville Stamp, Steve Agnew, Marc Thompson, James Turley, Graham Potter, Chris Iwelumo, David McNiven

Subs (from): Russ Howarth, Scott Jordan, Matt Hocking, Mark Bower, Leigh Wood, Scott Emmerson

Blackpool (possible): Phil Barnes, Danny Coid, Tommy Jaszczun, Ian Hughes, Brian Reid, Paul Simpson, Richard Wallens, Mike Milligan, Phil Clarkson, Brett Ormerod, John Murphy

Subs (from): Jon Kennedy, Lee Collins, Phil Thompson, Adam Newland, Mike Newell

Updated: 11:52 Friday, January 26, 2001