BOTH of York City's goalkeepers will get the opportunity to audition for first-choice status during the opening half of pre-season.

On-loan shot-stopper Nick Pope ended last season between the sticks for the Minstermen but the long-serving Michael Ingham and Jason Mooney are now battling to be included in the starting line-up for next month's SkyBet League Two curtain raiser at the latter's former club Tranmere.

City chief Nigel Worthington has insisted nothing should be read into his first XI for tomorrow's first summer friendly at Bootham Crescent but he will be looking to settle on which keeper kicks off the campaign by the time his squad return from next week's Scotland tour.

"Whoever starts in goal tomorrow, it won't mean anything," Worthington said of the contest for selection between City's sticks. "Every place is up for grabs and they will both be getting game time during pre-season.

"Then, as we get closer to the start of the season, we will probably decide on the number-one spot and give that player the last two or three full games to make sure they are up to speed."

City will be looking to use all 17 fit and available professional against the Owls, who finished 16th in last season's Championship and have sold almost all of their 2,000-strong ticket allocation for the Grosvenor Road end.

Recovering pair Dan Parslow and Wes Fletcher will play no part following last season's respective cruciate and medial knee ligament injuries, while Josh Carson remains a long-term casualty.

Of the former pair, Parslow is closest to a first-team return with Worthington adding: "Both of them are doing well but they have got to be managed correctly because you don't want a recurrence of anything.

"They are up to where they should be, but we have to be patient. Pars has done all the fitness work and Wes has done some, so he is still just that little bit behind him."

From the squad of 17 senior players, almost half are summer signings and Worthington is keen for all eight new faces to be assimilated into the group as quickly as possible and aware of the industry levels required from them.

He added: "We will be looking at the shape of the team and getting everyone harnessed into what we are all about. The new lads will need to know what we do and buy into it.

"All our pre-season games will also be challenging and I am expecting our opponents to have the ball quite a bit, so we will need to work hard to get it, which obviously helps with fitness."

Worthington is renowned for demanding the best physical results from his players having worked under fitness disciplinarian Howard Wilkinson at both Wednesday and Leeds United as a player.

Last term's The Press Player of the Year Keith Lowe, currently experiencing his first pre-season under Worthington, even took to Twitter this week to comment: "One of the hardest days I've had as a footballer".

And, on his Wigginton Road regime, the City chief said: "It has been hard but measured. Myself and (assistant manager) Steve (Torpey) have been through it ourselves so we know what's required.

"You have to be fit to play this game and this is the time of the season to work on that. The players came back in top-class condition, though, so it has just been a case of topping them up.

"But getting physical fitness on the training ground is one thing. We will now be looking for match fitness to add to what we are doing."

Worthington went on to reveal that he is not actively looking to further strengthen his ranks prior to the August 9 trip to Tranmere, providing the squad come through the six friendlies unscathed.

He reasoned: "We are still having a little look around but, if Pars and Wes get back on schedule and we don't pick up any pre-season injuries, I am more than happy with the group we have got. It looks very healthy."

Wednesday will also be opening their pre-season programme at Bootham Crescent with new summer signings Keiren Westwood, Sam Hutchinson and Paul McElroy, recruited from Sunderland, Chelsea and Hull respectively, all expected to feature.

Stuart Gray's men will include five full internationals in Westwood (Republic of Ireland), Chris Kirkland (England), Kamil Zayatte (Guinea), Jacques Maghoma (DR Congo) and ten-goal 2013/14 top scorer Chris Maguire (Scotland), kick-off is 3pm.

City's League Two rivals Cambridge United, meanwhile, have signed Crystal Palace striker Kwesi Appiah on a six-month loan deal.

Mansfield have taken on Birmingham City left-back Amari'i Bell on the same terms, while Portsmouth have agreed season-long loans with Swindon forward Miles Storey and Palace defender Alex Wynter.

Elsewhere, Luton have signed centre-back Luke Wilkinson from Dagenham, who have brought in Joss Labadie and Matt Partridge from Torquay and Reading respectively.

Left-back Jack Smith has also swapped Millwall for Wimbledon and Stevenage have swooped for Cambridge City striker Adam Marriott, while Plymouth have recruited Salisbury goalkeeper James Bittner.