YORK City club captain Mark Hotte is hoping his desire for a battle will earn him a recall for the Boxing Day home clash with former club Scarborough.

The 27-year-old defender has not started for the Minstermen since fracturing his shoulder in the 2-1 home victory over Canvey Island in mid-October and even that match was his first start in six weeks after losing his place to James Dudgeon.

Hotte has played only one game on the comeback trail - a reserve match against Scarborough ironically - and, so far, his Minstermen career has been restricted to seven appearances since his summer switch from the McCain Stadium.

But the 5ft 11in centre-back has been a non-playing substitute in City's last two games and his biggest wish for Christmas is that he lines up against his old team at KitKat Crescent on December 26 (1pm kick-off).

Hotte, who still clearly stands by the sentiments of Scarborough's club motto - No battle, no victory - said: "I've got my fingers crossed and I will probably find out on Christmas Day. I really enjoyed the two games last season and I love those games where you have to get stuck in and battle."

Having masterminded Scarborough's Boxing Day and New Year double over the Minstermen last season, Hotte is also in no doubt what the key to success in the fixtures will be, saying: "You have to win the battle first and then the skilful players can make a difference. Some of the lads will be playing a derby game for the first time and it will be a good test but we are up for it.

"We want to get a win and get back on track. All league form goes out of the window in these games, neither side will be favourites and it will be like a cup final."

Last season's McCain Stadium match on Boxing Day attracted 4,586 fans and the return fixture on January 2 also drew a crowd of 4,439 despite City's 5-1 defeat.

The Seadogs went on to win 2-0 at KitKat Crescent but Hotte is hoping for a repeat of the intense atmosphere at both games.

He said: "It's unusual to get that kind of atmosphere in this league. I played against Wigan and Manchester City at Oldham and it was a similar atmosphere to those games.

"I think a lot of fans feel that if you beat your rivals twice then anything else isn't as important."

Despite the rivalry between the two clubs, Hotte bears no malice towards his old team, who he served for three-and-a-half years, even if he will be cast as the pantomime villain in the eyes of most visiting fans at KitKat Crescent and in Scarborough a week later.

He said: "It will be a bit strange playing Scarborough but I will be doing my job and wanting to help York win. I know their manager and a lot of players and have a lot of friends who are fans of the club.

"I was the supporters' Player of the Year two seasons on the trot so I had a good rapport with them but, come the games, I know it will be a different kettle of fish and I'm sure I will be booed. Inside, you still have a little thing for a club you have been at and the ideal scenario for me would be us to beat Scarborough twice but they still stay up.

"I don't tend to speak to anybody before games and keep myself to myself but I'm sure that afterwards I will be meeting some old mates."

Both clubs will go into the match enduring sticky spells with City without a win in seven games and fourth-bottom Boro suffering three straight defeats.

But Hotte issued a reminder that the Minstermen still harbour play-off ambitions, saying: "Scarborough's fortunes always seem to go up and down. That's how it's been there for a long time. But at City we are still eighth and are looking for more points over Christmas."

Updated: 09:21 Friday, December 23, 2005