Preview: Wrexham vs. York City - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, travel to north Wales off the back of a hugely important victory against Dorking Wanderers last weekend.

Match preview

Having tussled with Notts County at the National League's summit for the majority of this season, Wrexham finally opened up a little more breathing space ahead of their title rivals last weekend.

The Red Dragons secured a nervy 2-1 win away to Bromley, with Paul Mullin's brace extending his tally to a remarkable 39 goals in 43 appearance for the season and helping his side collect three crucial points.

Even more significantly, Notts County were simultaneously held to a 1-1 draw away to Barnet, meaning Wrexham are three points clear at the top of the division with a game in hand, on top of boasting a marginally better goal difference.

As such, Phil Parkinson's destiny is in their own hands, as they attempt to go one better than last season when they finished six points behind Stockport County and missed out on returning to the Football League for the first time since 2008 by losing to Grimsby Town in the play-offs.

With a meeting against Notts County set to come at the Racecourse Ground on April 10, Parkinson and his players will be determined to head into that encounter with a healthy gap in tact over their rivals, with potential victory on Saturday set to take them one step closer towards achieving their ultimate goal.

York, meanwhile, edged closer to securing safety with a 2-1 win against Dorking last weekend, as they survived a late scare to hold onto all three points.

Having finally ended their five-year stay in the National League North through the play-offs last season, the Minstermen appear to be on course of achieving their primary objective of avoiding an instant return to the sixth tier, with last weekend's victory moving them eight points clear of danger.

However, Gateshead in 21st position do possess three games in hand on Michael Morton's side, although Yeovil Town and Dorking beneath them will be looking more nervously over their shoulders.

The interim boss, who was brought to the club last month after David Webb's reign lasted only 10 matches, will feel confident of obtaining the relatively few points which they are likely to require to get themselves over the line.

Those are unlikely to arrive in Wrexham on Saturday, though, given their forthcoming opponents' remarkable resources and run of form in recent times. Morton will likely be treating the occasion as a free hit, especially ahead of hosting relegation-threatened Scunthorpe United three days later.

Wrexham National League form:

W

W

D

W

W

W

York City National League form:

W

L

L

W

L

W

Team News

Parkinson may look to restore club captain Luke Young to his midfield against York, having only used the 30-year-old from the substitutes' bench against Bromley.

Jordan Davies is the most likely candidate to make way in the hosts' engine room, but otherwise Wrexham are set to be unchanged as they aim to remain top of the table.

York, meanwhile, are unlikely to see any alterations made to their starting XI by Morton after claiming a huge victory last time out.

Manny Duku will be hoping to get himself on the scoresheet once again after bagging against Dorking, as the visitors look to record one of the biggest upsets of the National League season.

Wrexham possible starting lineup:

Lainton; O'Connell, Tozer, Tunnicliffe; Barnett, Jones, Young, Cannon, Mendy; Palmer, Mullin

York City possible starting lineup:

Whitley; Fallowfield, Duckworth, Ellis, Crookes; Hurst, Pybus, Dyson, Hancox; Duku, Forde

We say: Wrexham 2-0 York City

We expect Wrexham to have far too much quality for their opponents, who are unlikely to be fighting tooth and nail having put considerable distance between themselves and the drop zone.

The Red Dragons are on the cusp of returning to the Football League and it seems improbable that a bottom half team can stop them in their tracks given the disparity in resources between the two clubs.

Previews by email