YORK City boss Colin Walker is contemplating changing tactics ahead of tomorrow's FA Trophy third round tie at Farsley Celtic.

Walker has started with three centre-backs in all 13 of his unbeaten matches since taking over the KitKat Crescent managerial reins from Billy McEwan.

But with Darren Kelly still injured and Darren Craddock serving a one-match ban, Walker could switch to a flat back four of Ben Purkiss, David McGurk, Danny Parslow and Anthony Lloyd.

Martyn Woolford, who has scored four goals in less than two-and-a-half games as a striker, would then switch to the left wing with Craig Farrell partnering Richard Brodie up front.

New signings Simon Rusk and Leo Fortune-West are cup-tied but Purkiss is expected to recover from a thigh strain, having benefited from the game being played tomorrow afternoon rather than today.

Teenage utility man Jimmy Beadle would be another option should Walker decide to retain his 3-5-2 system but he is expected to be named on the bench if Purkiss is fit.

Phil Turnbull, who scored for the reserves in midweek, is also on standby should Nicky Wroe fail to shrug off a minor knee problem.

City boss Walker said: "Talk about changing formation has come to light because of the people who can't play and I'm not one for putting square pegs in round holes. We've done well with three centre-halves but if there are only two available maybe we will have to go with a back four."

Russell Fry will also be in contention for a place on the bench along with trainees Andy McWilliams and Liam Shepherd.

Walker added: "Andy and Liam have been knocking on the door and doing well so they will come into our thoughts.

"Hopefully, we might be able to give them ten or 15 minutes soon but we want to win the game first.

"Farsley have players with a lot of experience and might still be smarting from us beating them 4-1 on Setanta."

Walker also appreciates that the quarter-final place at stake means the incentive of a possible day out at Wembley is growing for both clubs.

He said: "It's a fantastic thought that might happen if we win three ties.

"First, we have to get Farsley out of the way, get in the hat for the next round and who knows what will happen."

Walker added that suspended defender Craddock is currently the most disappointed man at the club but will still make the trip to Throstle Nest tomorrow from his north-east home.

Said Walker: "Darren has done really well but he will miss out now.

"He's been fantastic as our left-sided centre-back and it does appear that position might suit him more than right-back.

"He's very frustrated but the first thing he said to me when I spoke to him was Can I come and watch?'. That shows how much he thinks of the team because it's a long way for him to come on a Sunday."

Farsley (probable): Morgan, Jackson, Iqbal, Knowles, Bambrook, Reeves, Watson, Tuck, McNiven, Whitman, Bentham. Subs: Grant, Stamer, Heath, Hotte, Torpey.

City (probable): Evans, Purkiss, McGurk, Parslow, Lloyd, Panther, Elliott, Wroe, Woolford, Brodie, Farrell. Subs: Mimms, Beadle, McWilliams, Turnbull, Sodje.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).