MICKY CUMMINS and Academy coach Tim Ryan will take charge of York City tonight at Whitby Town, Steve Watson has confirmed.

Minstermen boss Watson, meanwhile, is planning on watching Chester at his former side Gateshead tonight.

Third-placed Chester are the side closest behind York in the National League North, with six points fewer with two games in hand, and come to Bootham Crescent on Saturday (3pm).

Tonight, York travel to the Turnbull Ground (7.45pm) on the Yorkshire coast in the North Riding County FA Senior Cup quarter-finals.

In the last round, Cummins and Ryan guided a York team comprising a selection of fringe and youth players to a 5-0 win over Pickering Town. At the time, only Adriano Moke had had an extended run in the side.

"It's a really important time of the season," Watson said.

"We know all about Chester and I'm going to watch them again on Tuesday night while Micky and Tim take the Whitby game.

"It's important to go and watch them live.

"We'll prepare for them the same way we have for all the games.

"One thing I will say, the games against teams in around us, we've stood up to them tests, apart from obviously conceding that goal against King's Lynn.

"I've got no doubt the lads will know the importance of next week's game."