Grimsby Town were hopeful their big weekend clash with promotion rivals York City would still go ahead despite snow currently on the pitch at Blundell Park.

The Mariners have called for fans to arrive early morning armed with shovels in order to help clear the surface.

York are definitely without the suspended Scott Brown, who serves the final of a three-game ban following his recent sending-off against Ebbsfleet United.

Defenders David McGurk [knee] and Jamal Fyfield [ankle] are both ruled out by injury but leading scorer Jason Walker could return after more than six weeks out.

Also in contention for the visitors are a whole host of new signings, with Chris Doig, Erik Tonne, Ben Swallow and Ben Gibson [right] ready to compete for starts.

"It's a fantastic one. It's like anything, if you want to be winners and you want to achieve you've got to go and beat the best," manager Gary Mills told BBC Radio York.

"Possibly at this moment in time, Grimsby's form is better than anybody. They've done well.

"We know we can go there and beat them, we know we can. We know it's going to be tough and if we beat Ebbsfleet next Tuesday we go back there again. It's fantastic to be playing Grimsby like this.

"I know my players, my team and my ambitions and I know our hunger here. We'll go there and get a result, I'm confident of that."

Mariners defender Bradley Wood is rated doubtful with ankle trouble, but Kiernan Hughes-Mason, Ian Miller, Louie Soares and Kenny Arthur should return to the squad after being cup-tied in midweek.