ASSISTANT manager Micky Cummins has insisted York City go into every game with a positive mindset ahead of tonight's trip to Guiseley.

Though the fourth-placed Lions are just four points below table-toppers York in the National League North, Cummins has said it is "as important as any game".

Club captain Steve McNulty is likely to miss tonight's journey west, although City are again giving him as much time as possible to recover and have not yet ruled him out completely.

Top-scorers in the division, Guiseley's game plan does pose teams problems - but it is a double-edged sword, Cummins said, and they could find themselves vulnerable at the back, as their goal difference suggests.

Aaron Martin - Guiseley's summer signing from Northern Premier League north-west division outfit Brighouse Town - has made a particularly impressive start to life at Nethermoor Park, scoring 10 of his new side's 19 goals so far this season.

The 10 goals the Lions have conceded, however, is the highest total of anyone in the top six.

Jointly managed by Marcus Bignot - who won the National League North with Solihull Moors in 2015/16 - and Russ O'Neill, Guiseley have won five and drawn one of their eight league outings.

"It's as important as any game," Cummins said.

"We want to perform well, be defensively solid and create opportunities, be that from set pieces, our strikers or our midfield.

"We've had a range of goalscorers this season - everybody's been chipping in with assists and goals and it'd be fantastic to carry on that form and to tighten things up at the back.

"We approach every game in that manner, albeit probably set up tactically differently for the opposition.

"But we always have that positive mindset of playing on the front foot, creating opportunities and being positive in the final third."

If results go York's way - with second-placed King's Lynn Town hosting third-placed Alfreton Town - the Minstermen could find themselves three points clear at the summit by Wednesday morning.

"It'll be a good barometer for the league" Cummins said. "We play fourth and second play third tomorrow.

"Guiseley have started well and it'll be a very good test for us.

"They've got a pair of managers who get their team up for it and really rally round them.

"They'll be buoyant with their form. It'll be a good match and good atmosphere as well.

"They've recruited quite well, they've brought goals into an already experienced back line and midfield.

"They've hit the ground running, and so has Aaron Martin.

"They like to get the ball forward and into the attacking third, they've got a long throw, they work well on set pieces and free kicks.

"They're quite direct and they get men in the box, so it's not a surprise they score a lot of goals.

"On the flipside of that, they commit a lot of bodies forward and they're quite susceptible to counter-attacks.

"The games they have had have been pretty open. They've dominated chances but they do leave the back door open."

York seem to be enjoying playing away from Bootham Crescent this season. Saturday's 3-2 win at Gloucester was their fourth on the road from four, which have also seen the Minstermen net 13 times.

On this form, Cummins said: "We'd like it to carry on. We've come unstuck a couple of times at home with teams sitting back.

"Away from home, teams come out and play, they leave gaps and we have exploited them in the past.

"I'd say at Gloucester, we could have been two or three nil up but we stopped doing what we had done to get us into a strong position and they scored.

"We have to be aware of that for the full 90 minutes and the lads have to be switched on.

"Last year when we played Guiseley we brought a good following. It was a good day out.

"It's a September evening, a nice, cool night, hopefully and the pitch is in good playing order.

"Hopefully we'll try and get the ball down, keep possession and try and exploit them."

Paddy McLaughlin and Simon Heslop have both returned to full-contact training. Dan Maguire is expected to be out for another four to six weeks.