YORK City wing-back David Ferguson is relishing the freedom of the 3-5-2 formation - and reckons it could be key to success tomorrow against Brackley Town.

The 25-year-old wideman looks to be flourishing in his new position and has been one of City's chief attacking threats over the course of pre-season with his driving runs.

Though neither he nor Kallum Griffiths - who occupies the opposing wing - was able to facilitate a breakthrough against Farsley Celtic midweek, Ferguson is optimistic the formation will reward City more often than not.

"It's breaking a lot of teams," he said. "If we're stretching teams, down the centre is where we can get through, but if we can't get through, we get down the sides and get crosses in the box.

"All it takes is a deflection going in and it changes the second half.

"I've got Newts (Sean Newton) behind me encouraging me all the time and when you've got players for cover, it's sort of a free role, going up and down, not worrying what's behind me.

"That's my game, getting forward. I like to think I can always defend as well - I'm obviously still a left-back - but wing-back gets that extra freedom.

"I think the formation is good, it suits me to a 'T'.

"Coming back pre-season, I thought it was my opportunity to get up and down.

"If we want the team to do well, the main part is in the formation, the wing-backs have to be able to get up and down."

The England 'C' international also believes York will have more joy against the style of play Brackley are expected to bring. By contrast to newly-promoted Farsley, the Saint James' Park outfit have finished in the National League North play-off spots two years on the trot - a record they will want to maintain this coming campaign.

Following wins over Bolton Wanderers, Hartlepool United, Scarborough Athletic, South Shields, Notts County, Pickering Town and Altrincham, Farsley was City's eighth game without defeat.

"It's a good record to have," Ferguson said. "The gaffer's said it's a habit. He doesn't care if it's pre-season or not - winning's a good thing to have.

"We've started the season well. Although we didn't score (against Farsley), I still think as a team we looked solid.

"I personally feel confident and as a team we're confident.

"We've got a good dressing room. Everyone backs each other.

"Everyone will come to York to try and get something from us but we have got enough good players to get the win on Saturday.

"I think pre-season and the start of the season have gone well, other than the other night.

"If we'd got the early goal we could have brought them out but the longer the game went on, they were happy to get a point.

"But we still haven't lost and we kept a clean sheet. We've got to go into Saturday's game with that mentality. Hopefully Brackley come at us a bit and that's where we pick them off.

"They played a straight back five on Tuesday. Saturday, I think Brackley will want to be finishing top four or five and they will come for the three points.

"That's where we exploit them."

On his pre-season, Ferguson added: "I changed the way I trained over the summer. I didn't go away on holiday. When we broke up, I gave myself a week off then I was straight back at it again. I feel I've come back really sharp."