VERSATILE Graham Potter has incentives aplenty as York City look to get their promotion push back on track at Exeter City tomorrow.

City and Potter have both suffered cruelly at the hands of the Grecians in recent years, none more so than last season.

City were denied a point in their Bootham Crescent clash when Potter's late goal was ruled out by the referee's final whistle.

In March, they also lost 2-1 at St James Park when Potter, caught napping in possession, was blamed for the penalty that handed Exeter all three points.

Anxious to consign such memories to the dustbin, Potter is also desperate to reclaim his ranking as a first team regular and help kick-start City's climb back up the table.

"The most important thing is the team does well and we are looking to go down there and get a result first and foremost," insisted the 27-year-old.

"We definitely need to get something tomorrow. We were unfortunate at Cambridge but a bit poor against Oxford.

"Exeter has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for us in recent years and we do need to get something from it.

"It is a game we can win, but as in any game in this division we could easily lose it to if we are not at our best.

"That is the Third Division, you have to battle and grind away. At the moment, where we are in the table it is not a big worry. We are only four points off the top and a win on Saturday will mean we will move up places."

Potter added: "From a personal point of view, I want to be in the side and playing.

"It's the last year of my contract and I want to be doing as well as I can and in the side. I do need a run of games. It has been stop start at the moment.

"I don't know the side as yet, but if I play I hope to do well and stay in the manager's thoughts."

Ruled out of City's first four games through injury, Potter returned to the starting line-up for the 2-0 win against Boston at the end of August.

However, two games later he was dropped to the bench before reclaiming a starting berth against Oxford when Stephen Brackstone fell ill.

Brackstone has now recovered but with Tom Cowan suspended tomorrow the former England Under-21 international looks likely to keep his place in the side.

Just where he will play remains is not certain - a fact Potter reckons is a factor in his stop-start campaign.

"The fact I can play in a few positions has probably not helped me," he reasoned.

"Last Saturday, I started in the centre of midfield, but I've also played left-back, wing-back and left-midfield. It would be nice to cement one position down and then rely on my ability.

"If I'm not doing it I'm out of the team, if I am I'm in.

"At the moment, it is just a case of going where the manager picks me. But while it is an asset that I can play in a number of positions it can also be a hindrance. I think I've become a bit of a utility man."

After two successive defeats, just one win in their last six outings and one goal in their last five, Potter reckons the arrival of new loan signing Lee Cook is a perfectly timed fillip for the Minstermen.

"It is nice to have a new face, it always freshens things up," he explained.

"It looks like he has got ability and I'm sure he will do well for the club. He has got good feet and pace and he is certainly another option for us."

York City's intermediates go in search of their first win in the Football League Youth Alliance north-east conference tomorrow when they travel to take on derby rivals Scarborough (11am).

Updated: 10:34 Friday, October 04, 2002