YORK City manager Martin Foyle is hoping strikers Michael Rankine and Richard Brodie can bully Oxford United’s twin towers Mark Creighton and Luke Foster into submission at Bootham Crescent tomorrow.

Rankine (6ft 3in) and Brodie (6ft 2in) caused Creighton (6ft 4in) and Foster (6ft 2in) countless problems during the Minstermen’s unlucky 2-1 defeat at the Kassam Stadium on the opening day of the season.

Since that match, when Oxford secured victory with their only on-target efforts of the afternoon in the 88th and 91st minute Chris Wilder’s men have gone from strength to strength. They currently head the Blue Square Premier by nine points.

But Foyle feels if his forwards can win the battle of the giants then his side have a chance of inflicting a second league defeat on the runaway leaders with Rankine, recalled due to Michael Gash’s foot injury, playing a key role, The City boss, right, said: “They have two no-nonsense defenders in Luke Foster and Mark Creighton, who don’t bring the ball down and start thinking they are players. They do the same job week in, week out – head the ball, volley it, clear it and compete.

“But Ranks gave Creighton a good beating up for an hour down at their place. His fitness levels are better now and he lasts 75 to 90 minutes which is great.

“If we can get the ball to our strikers again, we know we’ll cause Oxford problems.”

Foyle believes City’s next two matches – against Oxford and at Luton on Tuesday – represent the team’s toughest challenge this campaign.

But he also feels his team are capable of rising to both occasions with the season’s first 3,000-plus crowd expected at Bootham Crescent.

Foyle added: “These are our hardest two games of the season but, as a player, I would rather play those kind of matches.

“We have to be mentally switched on against Oxford and at Luton, who will be under pressure at home.

“If we are, we can take points off both of them. Tomorrow will be a great game for us to bounce back from after the end of our unbeaten run at Salisbury.”

Foyle has also warned his players about Oxford’s ability to change tactics.

Back in August, Wilder threw on Matt Green, who went on to grab the home side’s equaliser against City.

Green is now in the starting line-up but Jack Midson, who scored 26 times for Histon last season, is expected to be among the substitutes despite scoring twice as a 44th-minute replacement for James Constable in last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Grays.

The City boss said: “Their bench causes people problems because they can change things, so we have to be prepared for that.”

Foyle is set to recall midfielder Andy Ferrell after he sat out the 1-0 defeat to Salisbury due to suspension, pointing out: “I think he has the ability to unlock a defence and score the odd goal.

“He’s always had a defensive role in the past but we have pushed him further forward than most people have done in his career and he’s responded well.”

With Ferrell back and Chris Carruthers, who has recovered from a knee problem, ineligible due to a condition in the loan agreement between the two clubs, Foyle will need to decide whether James Meredith reverts from left-wing to left-back or Daniel Parslow continues in that position.

Of Parslow’s new role, Foyle said: “In my mind, it was a one-off but Dan did not do anything wrong.

“If we were to keep him in there, he’s a fantastic pro who will just get on with it.”

City (probable): Ingham, Purkiss, McGurk, Parslow, Meredith, Lawless, Mackin, Barrett, Ferrell, Brodie, Rankine. Subs: Smith, Sangare, Pacquette, Nelthorpe, McWilliams.

Oxford (probable): Clarke, Chapman, Creighton, Foster, Kinniburgh, Clist, Bullman, Murray, Green, Constable, Cook. Subs: Batt, Day, Midson, Sandwith, Perry.

Referee: Mark Brown (East Yorkshire).

Kick-off: 3pm.