HOT property duo Alan Pouton and Martin Garratt hope to benefit from an exchange and smart for York City.

The club's two most exciting first-team talents swap slots to return to their most natural roles at home to Chesterfield tomorrow when City's revived relegation escape takes a further step.

Both youngsters traded places during the last hour at Lincoln on Sunday, a switch that was a key factor in the Minstermen's first win in 12 League games.

Pouton was moved from wide left to central midfield, Garratt going the other way to kick-start the recovery for a heavenly return from Sincil Bank.

Confirming the shuffle in an otherwise unchanged team caretaker-manager Neil Thompson said: "I left it originally with Martin Garratt in the centre because he and Scott Jordan did well against Wigan.

"But when 'Pouts' went into the middle he showed a lot of discipline and there was a more solid shape.

"Tomorrow's game will be similar to Lincoln in that we will have to work our socks off to win possession when we have lost the ball and to make sure Chesterfield do not come through us."

Thompson was also looking to the carry on the spur that was provided by their crack Sabbath success.

"We've got use last Sunday as a spark. Getting those three points has given everyone such a lift. The lads are bubbling, they are chirpy."It's not all doom and gloom as some people think. We are professionals and provided we act like professionals from the trainees through to the seniors then it will come right and we will enjoy it."

New striker Marc Williams, whose two goals lit up Lincoln, could be the man to generate even greater sparks."He is a bubbly character. Nothing fazes him," enthused the City boss. "He plays on the shoulder of defenders and if he gets the right ball played up to him he will hurt teams. He is positive and that's what we have to be."

Still not out of the play-off equation, Chesterfield hold a vice-like grip over their hosts.

In their last six visits to Bootham Crescent City have yet to score a single goal against the team from Derbyshire.

It is almost nine years since they last beat the Spireites on home turf and that was a 4-0 basement battering with goals from Tony Barratt, Ian Helliwell, Iain Dunn and Steve Spooner.

The only survivor from that rare day is Andy McMillan and he will not figure. Currently City's only casualty, he is out for the vital run-in with a knee injury.

Chesterfield have a major doubt over abrasive midfielder Paul Holland. He jarred a knee early on in the defeat by Blackpool eventually coming off the field just before half-time.

Striker Jonathan Howard, who missed that match, is still troubled by a hamstring strain and faces a late fitness test.

The defeat by Blackpool stalled the Spireites' play-off momentum and was only their fourth loss at Saltergate, where they boast a home record this term surpassed only by Fulham for the number of wins.

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