AN upper-class resolution will drive York City’s approach against Doncaster Rovers tonight, said striker Ryan Jarvis.

The front-man, who occupied one of the two attacking slots in the season-opening League Two share-all at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, said for City to counter Rovers’ greater status they would have to “get in their faces”.

Jarvis likened tonight’s Capital One Cup first round visitors to Bootham Crescent to their Prenton Park opponents on the opening day of the campaign.

“Tranmere had just come down to our division, so they were all largely players from League One last season, while Doncaster are now in League One after their relegation (from the Championship,” said the 28-year-old Jarvis.

The ideal way to combat Doncaster’s superior status, he maintained, was for City to win the physical battle and assert themselves.

Jarvis said: “They are a league higher, but we need to pressure them high up the field like we did against Tranmere. By doing that, then we can force them into playing longer and make them lose the ball.”

That high-pressing tactic in which Jarvis and fellow striker Michael Coulson were key, helped to minimise the influence of Tranmere’s veteran play-maker Jason Koumas.

Even though the City man acknowledged Doncaster got their League One term off to a searing start with a 3-0 triumph at Yeovil, he insisted the Minstermen had the capability to spring a shock.

“That was a great start for Doncaster,” said Jarvis. “But it’s about pressure and work-rate. When they have the ball in their own half we have to get in their faces. We can’t afford to give them any room or time. We have to be at them.”

Jarvis was also looking forward to the first outing of the campaign in front of the Bootham Crescent fans.

“We were so unfortunate not to have come back with a win on Saturday, but it was a solid away performance and a great result and hopefully the fans will turn out for us for the Doncaster tie,” he said.

If tonight’s first round tie ends all-square after 90 minutes, there will be extra time. Should the teams still be deadlocked, the outcome will be determined by a penalty shoot-out.