YORK City left-back Nathan Peat is facing a race to be fit for this weekend's Conference trip to fellow high-flyers Accrington Stanley.

Peat started his first game in seven weeks during Saturday's 4-0 FA Cup victory at Gainsborough Trinity but was replaced midway through the second half after suffering a recurrence of his calf problem.

The 23-year-old defender has been sidelined with "deep-bone bruising" since early September after being kicked by team-mate Lev Yalcin in training.

He received a blow on the same part of his leg at Northolme on Saturday and has been back on the treatment table this week.

Peat said: "The injury first happened in training when I went to block a shot from Lev and he kicked my calf. The bruising went right through to my marrow bone and every time I struck the ball I felt pain.

"I got a kick in exactly the same place at Gainsborough and it's sore at the moment. I don't think I will be able to train until tomorrow at the earliest but hopefully it will be okay and then the manager will have to make a choice between me and Mes (Dave Merris) again."

Peat was grateful to earn a recall so soon after his return to fitness and despite the reliable form of Merris in his absence. He said: "It felt good to be back and I'm glad the gaffer had the faith to put me straight back in when Mes has been doing well."

The former Hull City full-back also believes that the Minstermen's reward for victory at Gainsborough - a home tie with Conference leaders Grays Athletic on November 5 - should provide an entertaining spectacle.

It is a match that will pit the Conference's top two teams together two-and-a-half months after the unbeaten Essex club snatched a 1-1 home draw against Billy McEwan's men by converting a stoppage-time penalty.

Peat said: "I felt Mark Hotte was very unlucky with the penalty decision at Grays but that's gone now and I'm sure the cup game will be a good one for the fans and also for neutrals. From what I have seen on Sky and when we played there, they are a footballing side like us.

"Neither team will be looking to lump it up to their centre forwards but I'm not bothered who we play really. A football game is a football game. You have to approach it in the same manner whether you are playing one of the top teams or a team not doing as well in a lower league."

Peat is also remaining focussed on Saturday's crucial league match first, adding: "We're not even thinking about Grays yet. That's miles away. Accrington is a massive game for us because they are one of the favourites for the league."

Should he be fit, Peat will continue to lead out the side at the Crown Ground in the absence of injured captain Hotte and it's a role he is relishing.

He said: "I love being captain. If you ask anybody in football if they want to be captain, whether it be for a Sunday League side, a Conference team, a Premiership club or England, then it's an honour.

"Fortunately, for me, I get the armband in Mark's absence because there's a lot of potential captains at the club. Chris Porter and Darren Dunning have both been here for a while and have got Football League experience, as has Jamie Price, so it's nice for me."

Updated: 12:24 Wednesday, October 26, 2005