South Wales will provide the setting for loan ranger Kieron Durkan's York City swansong tomorrow.
The winger's month-long loan spell from Macclesfield comes to an end after the Minstermen's trip to high-flying Cardiff City.
And manager Terry Dolan has revealed that the Silkmen have poured cold water over his hopes to keep Durkan at Bootham Crescent for an extended period.
He spoke to Macclesfield boss Peter Davenport yesterday but received bad news. "The conversation went along the lines of unless we make an offer for him he is going back to Macclesfield," explained Dolan.
"At the moment I'm not in a position to make an offer for him so at this moment in time he will be going back to Macclesfield on Monday and this will be his final game for us.
"I've not had enough time to make a judgement to say whether I'd offer any money for him. He has enjoyed himself and I think he would like to stay but it could be that Macclesfield need him back there."
Durkan's departure comes as a blow to Dolan who admitted: "We don't have anyone of his ability to play out wide." However, he has no immediate plans to bring in a replacement and will instead look to the current crop of players.
Those players will have a major undertaking if they are to extend their unbeaten record to four matches at Ninian Park tomorrow.
Cardiff, owned by millionaire Sam Hammam, are going all-out for automatic promotion and are unbeaten in four games. They have not lost since former Wimbledon star Alan Cork took over from Bobby Gould as manager and are hoping to field an unchanged side for the fourth successive game.
"They were one of the favourites before the season started and they've justified that," said Dolan. "They haven't lost many games, they've got money to spend and they've got fantastic supporters. But we're going there hoping to continue our run.
"Last week against Hull I don't think the players were very happy with the way the pitch was getting wetter and wetter but it added to the thrills and spills and I can see it being the same on Saturday."
York do not have the luxury of a settled side and are again forced into changes with Darren Edmondson and Alex Mathie both ruled out. Edmondson strained a calf in the goalless draw with Hull City last week and will be rested so as not to aggravate the injury. The same applies to Mathie who has a slight hamstring strain.
Barry Jones comes in for Edmondson at right-back with McNiven, City's top-scorer this season with five goals, starting in place of Mathie.
Strikers are one thing Cardiff are not short of. In last week's 2-2 draw with table topping Chesterfield £300,000 signing Leo Fortune-West and Kurt Nogan, a £150,000 buy from Preston, both had to settle for a place on the bench.
They have been kept out of the team by Robert Earnshaw, top scorer with five goals, and Kevin Nugent, who has contributed four. Another contender for the bench this week is their latest signing from Bristol Rovers, centre back Andy Jordan, son of former Scottish international Joe.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article