DEFENDERS Darren Edmondson and Mark Maley were set to undergo late fitness tests today ahead of tonight's visit of Swansea City to Bootham Crescent.

Edmondson missed Saturday's 0-0 draw at Colchester United with a groin problem while Maley was substituted at half-time suffering from a knee injury. Neither were expected to be in contention for tonight's Division Three encounter.

However, both made a surprise return to training yesterday and should they show no ill-effects could give manager Terry Dolan a welcome selection headache tonight.

Saturday's FA Cup clash saw City return to a 3-5-2 formation; a tactic that served them well against their First Division opposition.

Dolan has not ruled out a repeat tonight, but much will depend on the availability of Maley and Edmondson.

"Mark's knee has settled down over the weekend and Darren has also trained," said the City boss.

"We will see if there is any reaction but they could both be available. We have obviously got the team that finished the game on Saturday but if we have Darren and Mark to add to that then we will be happy."

Whatever his selection, Dolan admitted Saturday's stirring performance against Colchester should put his Minstermen in good heart.

"All the players who performed on Saturday did very, very well," he reasoned.

"We had to make changes with Darren dropping out and Mark coming off at half-time but it didn't seem to make much difference.

"It does give everybody confidence for tonight, but it is a different game and a different team and we have to be prepared."

Dolan, who, with Russ Howarth on England Under-20 duty has drafted trainee goalkeeper John Collinson into the squad, watched the Swans' 4-0 hammering of QPR on television on Sunday night.

"They looked a strong team and it appears that was nearly the first time they have had a full strength team out so they are going to be fired-up."

Skipper Chris Brass admits Swansea, buoyed by their cup success, should provide the sternest of tests.

But the City captain reckons City could catch them on the hop if they can repeat their own cup form.

"They will be on a high but hopefully it is a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show'," explained the City skipper.

"After a result like they have just had, they might think it is just case of turning-up.

"We have to make sure it is not like that. We have had that extra day to rest up so, hopefully, we can get straight at them and take it out over the full 90 minutes."

Brass added: "The game on Saturday took away the attention from the League and it was a nice break for us.

"But we have put it to bed now and we have got to build from our performances of late and makes sure we start that run of consistency.

"We have got to go for it at home. We went for it at Colchester when we got a grip-hold of the game and I don't see why we can't do that again.

"We were hard to beat and if we are a hard team to beat we will win more games than lose."

Updated: 08:47 Tuesday, November 20, 2001