YORK City defender Wayne Hall looks set to make his first appearance in a Minstermen shirt in almost six months tonight.

The stalwart full-back is one of just three names confirmed by City chief Terry Dolan for the club's opening pre-season friendly against Marske United at Bootham Crescent.

Trialists David McNiven and Phil Hadland a right-sided winger, are the only other two players certain to start tonight's North Riding Senior Cup semi-final tie.

It will be Dolan's first chance to see ex-Oldham striker McNiven and Hadland, released by Reading last season, in a competitive game.

Both players have been training with the senior squad since the players returned from their summer break.

But it will also be the City manager's first chance to see Hall in action since arriving at the club in February.

As reported in the Evening Press, Hall underwent surgery on a troublesome heel last season and has signed a three-month contract with the option of a year's extension should he prove his match fitness.

Despite the clash being a pre-season warm-up for City, the fact it is a cup tie will prevent Dolan from making wholesale changes during the game and can only name a 16-man squad.

The only players definitely ruled-out are Marc Thompson, who is shaking off a calf strain, and Chris Fairclough as he works his way back to fitness following a knee operation at the end of last season.

While the unveiling of the squad numbers last week suggested City would be favouring a formation with three centre-backs and wing-backs, Dolan said nothing was set in stone.

"I am always flexible," he said. "But the most important factor I am looking for initially is fitness. The players have had a couple of weeks now of basic fitness but this will be first 90 minutes that some of them will be done for a while.

"Having said that, if you don't want to win a game then there is no point in playing it."

Dolan described City's pre-season preparations as having gone "excellently" so far.

He said: "The players, by nature are much happier when the games start but while the players are happier as a manager and coach it is just an extension of training.

"We have three weeks left of five and I look at it as a gradual progression; stepping up the pace of training, increasing the games.

"But as far as I am concerned everything is geared towards August 12 and the season's kick-off. Everything is geared towards being positive. I am positive and I am sure the players are positive."

Dolan conceded he knows little about tonight's opponents, Marske United, from Cleveland and who play in the Northern League

"But no doubt they will be looking forward to playing at Bootham Crescent on such an excellent surface," he added.

Entry for tonight's match, which kicks-off at 7.30pm, costs £4 for adults and £2 for children.

The winners of tonight's tie will play either Middlesbrough or Scarborough in the final, on a date to be fixed.