York City chief Terry Dolan has the rare luxury of naming an unchanged line-up for the Minstermen's crunch clash with Carlisle tomorrow.

Barring any last minute injuries, it will be only the sixth time this season City have been able to name the same team twice.

As he anticipated a six-pointer, Dolan conceded an unchanged line-up offered the perfect lift for such an important game with the Football League's basement club.

"Providing there are no disasters between now and Saturday lunch time we will have an unchanged team," confirmed Dolan, who will give home debuts to 'keeper Alan Fettis and former Newcastle United player Paul Talbot.

"After a month of chopping and changing and trying to get the right formula I am looking for continuity and to pick an unchanged team is a start down that road.

"It makes a big difference to have a settled team. The players know each other better and know what is required."

With Colin Alcide and Craig Skinner playing for the reserves in midweek and Chris Fairclough pencilled in for a return to reserve action next week, City's long casualty list is shortening by the day.

Only Wayne Hall - whose scan on his problem heel has been delayed until Monday - and midfielder Scott Jordan are some way short of fitness.

"To have the experienced players back like Steve Agnew is a real boost," admitted Dolan, who is still searching for his first win since taking charge.

"Everything becomes easier when you have more players available. It puts pressure on those in the team who know they have got to perform to keep their place."

Dolan said Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at Macclesfield had given the team a lift, despite the disappointment of not being able to take advantage when the Silkmen were reduced to ten men.

He revealed he was looking to use the carping directed at the team in a positive manner as they look to put 12 points between themselves and Carlisle.

"As a group we have taken a fair bit of criticism in the last few weeks as far as I am concerned, and the few months as far as the players are concerned," he said.

"Its not nice but it is something you can use as a motivational tool and say to the players 'right, let's prove everybody wrong, let's show them what we can do.' I want them to do it on Saturday."

On the match with Macclesfield, Dolan said: "It gave us something to build on and I was pleased to get a point away from home.

"I thought Mark Sertori and young James Turley did reasonably well together, particularly in the first half.

"With them going down to ten men we struggled, but you have to give Macclesfield credit because of the way they closed ranks."

Dolan has confirmed he would like to keep young loan duo Mark Bower and Peter Hawkins until the end of the season.

Bradford City's Bower has played four games since arriving on a month's loan from the Bantams while Wimbledon's Hawkins is set to make his fourth appearance tomorrow.

Both players current deals are up at the end of the month.

Centre-back Bower may be able to squeeze in the midweek match at home at Shrewsbury on March 18, while left-back Hawkins is scheduled to return south after the Hartlepool match on March 25.

"Once we get to a week before I will make contact with their clubs but I would like to think we can extend the agreements," said Dolan.

"They are both decent lads willing to learn and from their respective clubs point of view that is why they are here.

Meanwhile, the City boss held talks with former Leeds and Burnley player Peter Swan yesterday over a possible Bootham Crescent link-up.

Dolan has offered Swan a contract until the end of the season and the player is now mulling over the Minstermen's offer.

Tomorrow's Teams

York City FC

From: Alan Fettis, Marc Thompson, Peter Hawkins, Barry Jones, Mark Bower, Lee Bullock, Steve Agnew, Kevin Hulme, Mark Sertori, James Turley, Paul Talbot. Subs : Barry Conlon, Christian Fox, Russ Howarth, Martin Reed, John Williams.

Carlisle United

From: Luke Weaver, Peter Van Der Qwaak, Tony Hopper, Damon Searle, David Brightwell, Shaun Teale, Paul Reid, Stewart Whitehead, Graham Anthony, Steve Soley, Scott Dobie, Steve Halliday, John Durnin, Richard Prokas, Rob Bowman, Matthew Pitts, Richard Tracey.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.