MANAGER Terry Dolan insists he is relishing the white-hot heat of York City's promotion battle.

The Minstermen can take a giant step closer to guaranteeing at least a play-off place with victory at Carlisle United tonight.

Defeat, however, would all but scupper any lingering hopes of claiming an automatic berth while wiping out City's match in hand advantage on their play-off chasing rivals.

Dolan though insists he is revelling in the tension.

Speaking ahead of tonight's trip to Cumbria, he said: "It's pressure of a different kind but it is a pressure you want every week.

"With five games to go, it is getting ever nearer and it's all hands to the pump.

"It is so important now we can keep this run going and if we can't get third spot then we get fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh.

"To be five games from the end of the season and to be still in with a shout it a tremendous credit for all concerned.

"Ever since this season started we have remained positive and we will remain positive until the very end, whenever that may be, and hopefully we will reap the rewards of that."

With defender Tom Cowan available after serving a two-match ban, Dolan admits he has options for changing the team that struggled to claim a point in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Rochdale.

However, while confirming the former Rangers and Sheffield United defender would return to the squad the City boss was keeping his cards close to his chest as to his starting line-up.

Dolan is expecting Carlisle, fighting a battle of their own at the opposite end of the table, to provide another stiff test of City's promotion credentials.

"But we can't worry too much about Carlisle," he said.

"I'm more bothered about us improving on the things we didn't do well enough on Saturday (against Rochdale). There are always areas you can improve and we know we can improve on our performance on Saturday."

Carlisle, with just two wins from their last nine outings, will be hit tonight by the suspension of striker Richie Foran, who grabbed Carlisle's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Bury on Saturday. Defender Mark Birch serves the last of a three-game suspension.

Updated: 11:29 Tuesday, April 15, 2003