York City boss Chris Brass believes Kevin Donovan and Gary Pearson can provide his team with the perfect midfield combination.

The two summer signings had not started a Minstermen game together until Saturday's 3-0 victory at Dagenham & Redbridge because of a mixture of suspension and injury.

But Brass feels Donovan and Pearson could be a valuable "naughty and nice" pairing in the middle of the park and will play both again at Crawley Town tomorrow.

The City boss said: "I was disappointed Kevin Donovan could not play for us last season but he has certainly given us quality since he's come into the team. He gives you an added dimension in the final third.

"Gary Pearson, meanwhile, does the nasty side. He destroys teams, breaks things up and helps you regain possession to get at the opposition better than we did in our earlier games.

"I think the pair of them coming in has benefited the team."

Brass will also keep faith with the same defence that has conceded one goal in the last two games.

That means teenage keeper David Stockdale will keep his place and the player-manager will continue to renew his former Burnley central-defensive partnership with skipper Steve Davis.

Brass said: "Steve and myself had not played together for a while but it has been nice to see that things have clicked straight back into place and I think we are both enjoying it.

"We played a lot of games together at Burnley and had a good understanding.

"I toyed with playing us both there at the start of the season but I did not want to go with three centre-halves and I decided to give Chris Clarke a chance. He might still come back in and there might be times when we want to play three at the back but I think we look a lot more solid and attack better in a 4-4-2 formation."

Brass has played on the right side and centre of midfield this season, as well as at right-back, but is now enjoying playing in the position he has for most of his career.

He said: "The accolades I have got in my career have been as a centre-back. We have done better as a side since we made the change and it will certainly continue in the short-term and if we continue to enjoy a level of success I won't be changing anything that's not broken."

Saturday's 3-0 victory at Dagenham has offered Brass a little more job security after recent pressure but the City boss realises the improvement must continue at Crawley.

He said: "Football's a fickle business. You can be two defeats away from everything taking a turn for the worse and two wins away from everything looking rosy. We have got to continue to get results and make sure we go on a run now to claw teams back.

"Crawley will have confidence having been promoted and have played together for a while. They are very similar to a lot of Conference teams in that they have pace andplay 4-4-2."

York City's youth team host Lincoln City at the Wigginton Road training complex tomorrow, kick off 11am.

Squads:

Crawley Town v City

Nationwide Conference

(at Broadfield Stadium)

Crawley (probable): Smith, Palmer, Simpemba, Rees, Hemsley, Hankin, Deane, Mapes, Jenkins, Tait, Davidson. Subs: Judge, Marney, Little, Traynor, Manuella.

City (probable): Stockdale, Law, Brass, Davis, Merris, Donovan, Pearson, Groves, Dunning, Bishop, Nogan. Subs: Porter, Robinson, Yalcin, Stewart, Harrison.

Referee: Patrick Miller (Bedfordshire)

Kick-off: 3pm

Updated: 10:42 Friday, September 10, 2004